Early Onslaught Too Much To Overcome In Loss

VANCOUVER, BC – The Vancouver Canadians were served a heaping helping of the Northwest League’s best offense in a 10-5 loss to the Eugene Emeralds (Giants) Thursday night at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Eugene used eight hits to score nine runs in the first four innings, including a three-run third and a four-run fourth in which all nine Emeralds came to the plate. That ended the night early for #19 Blue Jays prospect Yosver Zulueta (L, 0-3), who struggled with his command to the tune of four walks in three innings of work. He allowed five runs on four hits with four strikeouts.

Vancouver scratched across a run in the third without a knock but finally got in the hit column in the fourth when Tyler Keenan followed a Leo Jimenez walk with a base hit to right field. Consecutive doubles from Miguel Hiraldo and PK Morris later in the frame scored three runs to make it 9-4.

A run in the fifth on an RBI single from Jimenez brought the C’s within slam range, but Eugene’s third homer of the game – and 75th of the season – started the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Eight of nine starters reached base and five had a hit, paced by Keenan’s two knocks. The only pitcher to not allow a run was the starting right fielder Mack Mueller, who was pressed into emergency relief duty in the ninth after Alex Nolan had to exit with an injury. Mueller retired the side in order and finished his perfect frame by striking out #3 Giants prospect Luis Matos.

These two teams will meet in a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon as part of a Fortis BC ‘Nooner at The Nat. Top Blue Jays pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann makes his fifth career start opposite Mason Black in game one before Naswell Paulino takes on Jake Wong in the second tilt. Gates open at noon and first pitch for game one is set for 1:05 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 35 minutes after game one. Coverage begins at the top of the hour on MiLB.TV and Sportsnet 650.