(Gesa Stadium - Pasco, WA) - The Canadians were simply overmatched on Monday night by a pitcher that a year ago was a Northwest League All-Star as RHP Henry Henry went seven scoreless innings to help the Dust Devils open up a three-game series vs. Vancouver with a 2-1 victory.Vancouver
(Gesa Stadium - Pasco, WA) - The Canadians were simply overmatched on Monday night by a pitcher that a year ago was a Northwest League All-Star as RHP Henry Henry went seven scoreless innings to help the Dust Devils open up a three-game series vs. Vancouver with a 2-1 victory.
Vancouver put themselves behind early as LHP Randy Pondler (0-4) walked the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the 1st inning (RF Aldemar Burgos and CF Tre Carter) and both would come home to score on a groundout from DH Luis Asuncion and a double from C Blake Hunt giving the home team an early 2-0 lead.
The Canadians had a chance to bring the game to within a run in the top of the 8th shortly after SS Vinny Capra hit a one-out triple to right field off Tri-City reliever Nick Kuzia but seconds later gambled on a wild pitch that got past catcher Blake Hunt. Capra saw the ball get passed Hunt but didn't realized that the ball would ricochet right back off the wall and give Hunt enough time to flip it to Kuzia who was covering home plate. Kuzia tagged Capra and home plate umpire Ray Patchen called the Canadians shortstop out to produce the second out of the inning. LF Tanner Kirwer would fly out to left field shortly after and Vancouver took the 2-0 deficit to the 9th inning.
With just three outs to try and at least draw even, the Canadians got a leadoff triple from 2B Otto Lopez who would score on a single from DH Yorman Rodriguez bringing Vancouver to within one. Rodriguez was replaced on the base paths by the swift pinch-runner Brandon Polizzi with just no one out in the top of the 9th inning. The next hitter RF Griffin Conine stepped up and hit a sharp line drive right down the first base line but because Tri-City 1B Justin Paulsen was holding Polizzi on-base, he was right on the line to receive the one-hopper, tagged the bag and threw down to second base where shortstop Owen Miller tagged Polizzi for the unfortunate double play. After 1B Jake Brodt singled to left, 3B Sterling Guzman flew out to end the game with the Canadians falling 2-1.
With the loss, Vancouver falls to 15-16 (.484) on the season while Tri-City improves to 15-16. These two teams meet out at Gesa Stadium on Tuesday, July 17th at 7:15pm with RHP Josh Winckowski (2-2, 3.00) getting the ball with a chance to snap Vancouver's two-game losing skid.
Vancouver Canadians Baseball returns to Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium on Thursday, July 19th at 7:05pm as they welcome the Hillsboro Hops for a crucial five-game series that runs through the 23rd of July. 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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