Late Chance for Dust Devils Cut Off at Pass
PASCO – A bottom of the 9th inning that saw the Tri-City Dust Devils (26-35 2H, 61-66) move the potential tying runs into scoring position got cut off on one swing Tuesday night, with a line drive double play securing a 3-1 win for the Vancouver Canadians (35-26 2H, 62-65)
PASCO – A bottom of the 9th inning that saw the Tri-City Dust Devils (26-35 2H, 61-66) move the potential tying runs into scoring position got cut off on one swing Tuesday night, with a line drive double play securing a 3-1 win for the Vancouver Canadians (35-26 2H, 62-65) at Gesa Stadium.
SS Kendrey Maduro, who launched a long solo home run to left in the bottom of the 1st inning, completed a three-hit night by getting a blooper to fall in shallow right center. 1B Ryan Nicholson hit a deep drive caught near the warning track in left center, holding Maduro at first with one out. DH Ryland Zaborowski then hit a deep fly to right that landed safely in deep right, a double that moved Maduro to third. 2B Harold Coll came up and hit a screaming liner that found the glove of his counterpart, Vancouver 2B Demeury Peña, who then made a quick step to second. Tri-City pinch-runner Capri Ortiz, who had come in to run for Zaborowski, had no chance of returning to the bag in time, getting doubled off to end the game.
Every run in the game came home via the longball, with the Dust Devils’ early 1-0 lead erased on a two-run homer to right by Canadians 3B Gable Mitchell in the top of the second. Though those were the only runs given up on the night in five solid innings from starter Jose Atencio (2-5), the Venezuelan righty took the loss. Vancouver reliever Reece Fields (2-1) threw three scoreless innings to get the win for the visitors, and Jack Eshleman picked up the save.
Former Tri-City outfielder David Calabrese, released by the Angels in August and signed shortly thereafter by the Blue Jays, proved a thorn in the side of his former team. The 2025 Dust Devil singled in front of Mitchell to score the first run of the game and added a solo home run to right in the 7th for what ended up the final run.
DUST DEVILS NOTES
-Kendrey Maduro’s three-hit night was his second such game for Tri-City. The Aruban has eight multi-hit games in his first 23 at the plate for the Dust Devils, providing power and consistency in the middle of the order.
-Reliever Kyle Roche threw a scoreless 9th inning, in his 44th appearance for Tri-City on the mound. The Braintree, Massachusetts native has taken the ball for Dann Bilardello’s team more times than any other pitcher both in the Northwest League and at the High-A level (Brooklyn’s Juan Arnaud sits in second at 43 appearances).
-Though Vancouver took the series opener they did not clinch the Second Half playoff berth, as the Everett AquaSox downed the Spokane Indians 7-1 at Avista Stadium to keep the faintest hope alive. The Canadians’ magic number sits at one, with the Hillsboro Hops eliminated via a 7-5 loss to the Eugene Emeralds at PK Park.
I’M BLUE…DA BA DEE, DA BA DYE
Tri-City and Vancouver gather for game two of their six-game series at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night at Gesa Stadium, where fans are encouraged to wear blue as part of Blue in the Park Night. Those in blue will receive raffle tickets for the chance to win prizes.
Right-hander Dylan Jordan (0-1, 7.88 ERA) ascends the slope for the Dust Devils, with left-hander Dasan Hill (0-0, 4.05 ERA in Northwest League action) assigned the start for the Canadians.
Free broadcast coverage on the MiLB app and dustdevilsbaseball.com begins with the Dust Devils Pregame Show at 6:10 p.m. Fans can also watch the game for free on Bally Sports Live (Tri-City broadcast), and via subscription on MLB.tv and the MiLB app.
The final series of the year includes a 2027 wall calendar giveaway, two fireworks nights, the return of the Zooperstars, and a 25th Season jersey auction. For tickets, visit the official ticket site, dustdevilsbaseball.com.