Madsen overpowering for Canadians
Madsen became the third straight starter to produce a dominant effort in the best-of-five series. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out the first four batters he faced and retired the first 13 before John Mayberry Jr. singled with one out in the fifth.
After leading the league with a 1.69 ERA during the regular season, Madsen (1-0) walked one and came within one of a season high for strikeouts. Bradley Davis finished off the two-hitter, striking out three over the final two innings and working around a leadoff single in the ninth by K.C. Herren.
Coming off a 6-1 loss in Game 2, the Canadians pounced on Indians starter Douglas Mathis (0-1) for four runs in the opening inning. Chad Boyd led off with a single, Justin Sellers doubled and Jeffrey Baisley's base hit scored both runners. One out later, Haas Pratt delivered an RBI triple and came home on Steve Klein's double.
Mathis recovered from the shaky start and ended up allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings with five strikeouts and two walks.
Vancouver struck again in the seventh against reliever Jesse Hall. Boyd stroked another leadoff single and scored from first base on Pratt's two-out double. Jose Garcia followed with his second triple of the night to make it 6-0.
Boyd was 2-for-3 to keep his postseason average at .667, while Garcia went 3-for-3 with a double, two triples and two RBIs. Catcher Anthony Recker was the only member of the Canadians' starting lineup without a hit.
Vancouver can end the series and capture its first Northwest League title with a win in Game 3, which is slated for 10 p.m. ET on Sunday at Nat Bailey Stadium.