Gm 19: Canadians nearly erase six-run deficit; fall 6-5 to Hillsboro

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - A lot of little accidents. If someone were to ask about the Canadians 6-5 loss to Hillsboro on Tuesday night, that might be the best way to summarize the game in just one sentence. Vancouver (5-14) got roughed up behind the arm of RHP Adam Kloffenstein, and yet almost found a way to win with a late barrage of offense from some pretty unexpected places.
Kloffenstein, 18, made his fourth start of the season and first against the Hops coming into the game with an 0-1 record and a ERA just over four. He got roughed up early giving up a leadoff single to 3B Ricky Martinez in the top of the 1st inning followed by a two-run home run from SS Steven Leyton giving the Hops a 2-0 lead before most fans had put mustard on their hot dogs. Kloffenstein would settle in retiring seven of the next eight hitters he faced before giving up a lone run in the 3rd and three more in the fourth inning. SS Steven Leyton's single that brought home LF David Garza extended the Hillsboro lead to six with just three of those runs earned as the Vancouver defense once again struggled in key situations.
While Kloffenstein was navigating his way through the neverending waves of offense from the Hops, starter RHP Wilfry Cruz was outstanding cutting through Canadians hitters with ease over his five innings allowing just two hits and never allowing a Vancouver baserunner past second base before handing the ball over to the bullpen.
After a tidy bottom of the 6th inning from reliever LHP Trevor McKenna, the Canadians were gifted a run in the bottom of the 7th inning when the lefty allowed a leadoff single to C Brett Wright and then proceeded to walk both SS Ronny Brito and CF Adrian Ramos before he hit 2B Davis Schneider to bring home Vancouver's first run of the game. The C's had a chance to cut further into the five-run deficit but both DH Tanner Morris (pop out) and 3B Luis De Los Santos (ground out) left the bases loaded heading to the 8th inning.
Hillsboro manager Javier Colina dipped into his bullpen grabbing LHP Franklyn Soriano and the Canadians took advantage plating four runs including a two-run double from 2B Davis Schneider who was 2-for-30 (.067) over his past ten games prior to the extra base hit that brought Vancouver to within one. DH Tanner Morris grounded out with Schneider at second base and the Canadians would go in order in the bottom of the 9th inning as RHP Jose Cuas stepped in to pick up his 3rd save of the season and preserve RHP Wilfry Cruz's first win of the summer in the process.
Notes: Canadians 1B Yorman Rodriguez was 1-for-4 dropping his season average to .404 through 17 games... He also extended his current hitting streak to six games (June 26-July 2)... Tanner Morris was 0-for-5 on Tuesday and is now 2-for-19 (.105) over his past five games... Vancouver has committed five errors in this series to draw even with Hillsboro who committed five in Monday's opener... C Brett Wright was 1-for-3 with two runs scored... LHP Nicolas Medina was fantastic over his four innings of work in relief of RHP Adam Kloffenstein. The left-hander went four innings of scoreless baseball allowing just two hits, striking out one... Vancouver announced that the Blue Jays had sent RHP Adams Cuevas to Bluefield and brought in both RHP Mike Pascoe and RHP Luis Quinones who were added to the roster on Tuesday... Vancouver is 2-5 (.286) vs. Hillsboro in seven head-to-head meetings this season.
With the loss, Vancouver (5-14) remains five games back in the North Division and missed out on a chance to make up a game on the entire division as Spokane, Tri-City and Everett all lost. There are 19 first-half games remaining with Spokane and Tri-City tied atop the division, Everett a game off the pace and the Canadians five back.
Vancouver will send RHP Luis Quinones to the mound in the finale of this current three-game series vs. Hillsboro with the first pitch set for 1:05pm. Wednesday's game will be streamed at www.canadiansbaseball.com and on www.sportsnet650.ca starting at 1:00pm.
Ticket to Vancouver Canadians Baseball are available for Wednesday's game by calling 604.872.5232, online at www.canadiansbaseball.com or by visiting the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office at 4601 Ontario Street, Vancouver, B.C.
-30-
6th loss by two runs or less