Gm 26: C's slammed in series opener, fall 6-5 to Boise

(Memorial Stadium - Boise, ID) - One swing changed the course of an entire evening as Boise Hawks SS Terrin Vavra hit a one-out, grand slam in the bottom of the 9th to stun the Vancouver Canadians who fell 6-5 to open up a five-game series out at Memorial Stadium.
After both teams exchanged runs in the 1st inning before Vancouver plated a pair of runs in the top of the 5th inning with CF Tanner Kirwer and SS Otto Lopez picking up RBI singles to give the Canadians a 3-1 lead. The Hawks would cut the lead to a lone run in the bottom of the 5th inning before Lopez struck again in the top of the 7th inning with another RBI single to give Vancouver a 4-2 lead. Canadians 1B Jake Brodt would lift a sacrifice fly to right field in the top of the 8th inning scoring pinch-runner Brandon Polizzi (Yorman Rodriguez) helping Vancouver to a convincing 5-2 lead.
The three-run cushion for Vancouver lasted until the bottom of the 9th inning when RHP Justin Watts gave up a lead-off single to C Willie Maciver and eventually walked DH Dan Jipping after getting RF Cade Harris to strikeout. Shortly after walking Jipping, Canadians manager Dallas McPherson opted to go deeper into the bullpen calling for RHP Will McAffer who came into the game with a 3-0 record and a sub-one ERA. McAffer didn't retire a hitter as CF Matt Hearn singled to load the bases before SS Terrin Vavra stepped up and hit a 2-0 fastball over the center field fence sending the crowd of 2,329 into euphoria as the 3rd rounder of the Colorado Rockies recorded his first professional grand slam to give the Hawks a stunning 6-5 victory over Vancouver.
With the loss, the Canadians fall back to .500 at 13-13 while the Boise Hawks improve to 15-11 (.577) through 26 games of the first-half. Vancouver awaits the finals from Hillsboro who is hosting Tri-City and Everett where the Aquasox welcome Salem-Keizer.
Vancouver will play game two of this current five-game series in Boise on Thursday, July 12th at 6:15pm pacific with LHP Elio Silva (2-1, 4.22) getting the ball out at Memorial Stadium.
Vancouver Canadians Baseball returns to Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium on Thursday, July 19th at 7:05pm as the C's host Hillsboro at 7:05pm through July 23rd. Tickets are available 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.
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