C's close in on division lead; top Tri-City 7-5
(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - All-Star SS Franklin Barreto led the offense as the Canadians rallied back to win 7-5 at Scotiabank Field, evening up the series with Tri-City, and creating a potential four-way tie for first in the ultra-compact North Division standings.
Barreto went 2-for-4 with a walk, including a decisive two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to pull from behind to give the Canadians a lead they would not surrender the rest of the way. The line drive shot over the left field wall, his 5th of the season, sparked a three-run inning that pushed the score to 6-4 for Vancouver.
The Dust Devils answered back in the sixth scoring a run from third on a wild pitch to cut the lead to one, but that was as close as they would come as the bullpen pitched their way out of trouble, showing some much needed resolve.
Tri-City twice had the tying run 90 feet away at third with less than two outs but the Dust Devil batters went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in both instances.
RHP Justin Shafer was especially sharp in relief, striking out the side after allowing a lead-off double to DH Sean Dwyer in the seventh, and erasing a two-out double the following frame by picking off CF Denzel Richardson at second the very next pitch to end the eighth.
The Canadians added an insurance run in the ninth, and Shafer came back out for the ninth and retired the first two batters before giving way to LHP Michael Kraft to record the final out and his first save of the season.
The victory evens the set with Tri-City and keeps alive a chance to record five straight series wins versus the Dust Devils dating back to last season.
The win also pulls Vancouver within a half game of the division lead with Spokane and Everett playing a second extra-innings game in as many nights down at Everett Memorial Stadium. A Spokane win would create a four-way tie for first place, allowing for a clean slate shootout to the finish with 20 games left to play.
The Canadians can complete the series win in tomorrow night's game, a Superstar Series appearance by Blue Jays alumni "The Terminator" Tom Henke. First pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.