(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - It might be the only time this season that you give the Canadians a 'mulligan' as Vancouver's offense looked tired and overmatched by a motivated Tri-City pitching staff that included six strong innings from RHP Henry Henry as the Dust
(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - It might be the only time this season that you give the Canadians a 'mulligan' as Vancouver's offense looked tired and overmatched by a motivated Tri-City pitching staff that included six strong innings from RHP Henry Henry as the Dust Devils found three runs gift wrapped in the top of the 8th inning to take the opening game of a three-game series out at sold out Scotiabank Field on Tuesday night.
Vancouver (31-26, 12-7) opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd inning when SS Otto Lopez hit his third triple of the season off Henry and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of CF Tanner Kirwer to give the Canadians a 1-0 lead.
That separation lasted just a few moments as in the top of the 4th inning, Dust Devils RF Dwanya Williams-Sutton crushed a LHP Elio Silva pitch over the left-center field fence to even the game at 1-1.
That score held until the top of the 8th, as Canadians reliever RHP Denis Diaz struggled in his second frame walking 3B Kelvin Alarcon and allowing a base hit to LF Tre Carter to put a runner at first and second base (Note: the single was disputed vigourously as Diaz and many within the stadium thought a throw from 1B Sterling Guzman got to Diaz in time to record Carter as an out, but base umpire Nick McFarland saw the play differently).
Frustrated and seething, Diaz proceeded to walk 2B Xavier Edwards to load the bases before striking out CF Grant Little to produce the second out. Canadians manager Dallas McPherson then opted to go to his bullpen for closer RHP Connor Law who with the bases loaded and two outs, got SS Tucupita Marcano to ground to 3B Nick Podkul, but the hard-hit baseball ricochet off Podkul and went into shallow left-field allowing both Alarcon and Carter to score. Canadians C Yorman Rodriguez with ball in-hand then threw up the first base line to 1B Sterling Guzman as Marcano had made a wide turn at first base and began baiting Vancouver into chasing him around between first and second while Edwards broke for home from third base. The run scored as the relay home short-hopped Rodriguez allowing three runs to count when the dust had finally settled.
RHP Jon Guzman pitched a harmless 8th inning followed by a 9th inning where the C's brought the tying run to the plate off RHP Jordan Guerrero who walked DH Chris Bec and allowed a single to LF McGregory Contreras befoir striking out both 1B Sterling Guzman and 3B Nick Podkul who was looking for redemption after the defensive gaff in the 8th inning. Podkul struck out on a 100-mph fastball to end the game.
With the loss, combined with Spokane's victory at home over Everett means the Canadians head into Wednesday's 7:05pm game with a one-game lead in the North Division with just 18 second half games remaining. The Canadians will send RHP Joey Murray to the mound on Wednesday to try and get Vancouver (6-2 in past eight games) back onto the winning side of the baseball ledger.
Tickets to Vancouver Canadians Baseball can be purchased 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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