Dust Devils’ Perfect Afternoon Ruined by Canadians

Starter Nick Mondak threw five perfect innings and the Tri-City Dust Devils (12-22 2H, 41-56) grabbed an early 2-0 lead, but the Vancouver Canadians (21-12 2H, 51-45) ambushed the Dust Devils’ bullpen for two big innings in a 10-4 win Friday afternoon at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Mondak, a lefty from Watertown, Connecticut, retired all 15 batters he faced, striking out three and pitching to contact to get easy outs. He got an assist as well from D’Shawn Knowles in the 5th inning, the center fielder jumping up against the wall to catch a long fly ball and prevent an extra-base hit.

Mondak was originally slated to go 3-4 innings due to his pitch count, but his efficiency allowed him to get through five and leave with a chance for his third win of the season.

Mondak left with a 2-0 lead due to early runs from the Tri-City offense. Gabe Matthews mashed a home run over the right field wall with two out in the 1st inning, giving the Dust Devils a 1-0 lead. The advantage doubled in the 2nd inning when Christian Sepulveda, who doubled to get into scoring position, scored on an error by Vancouver’s P.K. Morris when the left fielder dropped a fly ball hit by Jose Reyes with two outs.

The game turned in the bottom of the 6th inning, when the Canadians exploded for six runs to take the lead. The first batter not to face Mondak, Garrett Spain, took a Nathan Burns (0-2) pitch over the right field fence to end the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout all at once. Spain’s homer cut the Tri-City lead to 2-1.

The following four batters would all reach, with an Andres Sosa single tying the game at 2-2. Houston Harding came in to try to put out the fire, but Vancouver’s Damiano Palmegiani threw gas on it instead by socking a grand slam deep over the left field fence for a 6-2 Canadians lead.

The Dust Devils cut the lead in half in the 8th inning. D’Shawn Knowles drew a leadoff walk, and Osmy Gregorio followed with a two-run home run over the high wall in left center to make it a 6-4 game. Matthews and Sepulveda then singled to put the tying runs on base, but Vancouver reliever Juan Nuñez struck out Mike Wilson to keep Tri-City from scoring further.

The Canadians then added four runs in the bottom of the 8th to put the game away. Sean Wymer (4-1) pitched the 6th inning to get the win. Nuñez finished the game, getting his first save due to his entering the game in a save situation in the top of the 8th.

The Dust Devils look to rebound at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night at Nat Bailey Stadium, in game five of the six-game series. A pair of southpaws face off, with Brent Killam starting for Tri-City and Trenton Wallace going for Vancouver.

The game broadcast begins with the King Beverage Budweiser Pregame Show at 6:50 p.m. at dustdevilsbaseball.com and the MiLB First Pitch app.

Tickets for the Dust Devils' next home series, August 9-14 against the Everett AquaSox, and all games are on sale now. Ticket packages are also available and start at just $99, and special ticket rates are available for groups of 20 or more. For more information on Dust Devils single game, season, mini-plan (11, 22, 33) and group tickets, visit dustdevilsbaseball.com or call 509-544-8789.