Castro Dominates as C's Win Series Finale

By Rob Fai

June 20, 2014

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - The Vancouver Canadians bounced back from an early afternoon defeat to salvage the final game of a three-game series against Spokane handing the Northwest League's last undefeated team a 3-0 loss to split Friday's double header out at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Canadians RHP Miguel Castro was dominant in his second start of the summer going six shutout innings striking out three for his first victory in a Vancouver uniform. Castro's fastball topped out at 98MPH as fans watched him buzz through the Spokane offense. RHP Brett Barber would come on in the 7^th inning, which was the final inning of a double header to preserve the victory garnering his 1^st save of the summer.

Offensively the Canadians managed just four hits off of Indians pitching, but opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2^nd inning when 2B Tim Locastro reached base on an error and eventually came around to score when he stole home beating a tag from Spokane catcher Marcus Greene.

With the Canadians up 1-0, a pair of runs would cap off the afternoon with base running once again taking center stage. CF Roemon Fields would manage an infield single beating RHP Derek Thompson in a race to first, then proceeded to steal second base and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from SS Franklin Barreto helping the Canadians build a 3-0 lead.

With the victory, Vancouver improves to 4-4 (.500) on the season and snap a four game losing streak, while Spokane, who took the first game of Friday's double header, fell to 6-1 (.857), and are 2 ½ games up on Vancouver for top spot in the Northwest League's North Division.

The Canadians now head south to Hillsboro, Oregon to play a five-game series against the South Division Hops starting on Saturday night at 7:05pm. Vancouver will send RHP Zak Wasilewski to the mound in the series opener.

Vancouver Canadians Baseball returns to Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium on Thursday, June 26^th, 2014 for an eight-game home stand against the Tri-City Dust Devils (June 26-28) and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (June 29-July 3). Tickets to Vancouver Canadians Baseball can be purchased by calling 604.872.5232 or by visiting the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office at 4601 Ontario Street, Vancouver, B.C.