The Vancouver Canadians clinched the second-half North Division title with a comeback victory over the first-half champion Spokane Chiefs at Nat Bailey Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Matthew Smoral was given the start for the C's and he gutted his way through five innings, surrendering just two first-inning runs. The Ohio lefty had trouble finding the plate with his array of 77-94 MPH pitches by walking five batters. He received a visit from pitching coach Jeff Ware who presumably told Smoral to re-establish his fastball after going offspeed for a number of pitches. Smoral was able to induce two double plays and pick off a runner at first base to minimize the damage. His best inning was his last as he struck out two of the three batters he faced, including a swinging strikeout on an 82 MPH offering. He allowed three hits and struck out five.
Alexis Maldonado got Vancouver's first hit of the day with a two-out single to center field in the third inning.
Roemon Fields followed with a triple that twisted Indians right fielder Luke Tendler like a pretzel in trying to catch it. That scored Maldonado to cut the Spokane lead to 2-1.
Tim Locastro lined one up the middle to score Fields and tie the game at 2-2.
Yeyfrey Del Rosario relieved Matthew Smoral and yielded the go-ahead run in the sixth on a double to Diego Cedeno (pictured here) and a two-out RBI single by Luke Tendler to make it 3-2 for the visitors.
Franklin Barreto singled up the gut to get the ball rolling for Vancouver in their half of the sixth. Barreto was balked to second base by Spokane starter Andrew Barnett and would proceed to steal third base.
Richard Urena got to the plate after a Jonathan Davis walk kept the inning going. He singled to right field to score Barreto from third with the tying run.
Jonathan Davis claps his hands after sliding across the plate head-first with the go-ahead run. He had moved to third base on Urena's single and pulled off a double steal with Urena, who was able to make it to third during the play. Urena would later cross the plate with an insurance run. Davis also played a big role with the glove by throwing out a runner at home from left field to end the first inning.
Andrew Case heaved away for two scoreless innings, overcoming a walk and an error along the way while getting through the heart of the Spokane order. He reached 92 MPH on the radar gun and struck out a batter.
Case's efforts set up Phil Kish, who got three quick groundball outs in the ninth for his ninth save as the C's held off Spokane 5-3. Kish gets congratulated by catcher Mike Reeves, who drove in the insurance run in the sixth. Getting ready to join Kish and Reeves in the celebration from left to right are Tim Locastro, Andrew Case, Jonathon Wandling and Matthew Smoral. The winning pitcher was Yeyfry Del Rosario.
Game 1 of the Northwest League North Division final is slated tonight, weather permitted. Lefthander Ryan Borucki (1-1, 1.90) gets the call on the mound for Vancouver against fellow southpaw Derek Thompson (4-6, 3.21). First pitch is at 10:05 pm Eastern. I'd be surprised if this game starts on time. It's been raining for most of the day and it appears it will continue into the night according to the forecast. It's supposed to be nicer here Wednesday so don't be too surprised if this game gets pushed back. Meantime, Spokane has loaded up their roster with three position players and three pitchers, mostly from the AZL Rangers. The C's last roster move was the return of Jonathan Davis from the disabled list.
With Monday's 4-1 victory in yesterday's regular season finale, the C's and Indians split their season set with six wins and six losses. Vancouver has made the Northwest League playoffs in all four years of its affiliation with the Blue Jays and its final season with Oakland to make it five straight post-season appearances. The C's hope to win their fourth straight championship to tie Spokane for the most consecutive titles so it's only fitting that the C's will need to get by the Indians in an effort to do just that. To quote Steely Dan, do it again!!!!
For more on the Canadians, check out the latest from Charlie Caskey in The Vancouver Sun. He is also saying slugger Rowdy Tellez may be on his way to join the C's for their playoff drive.
Matthew Smoral was given the start for the C's and he gutted his way through five innings, surrendering just two first-inning runs. The Ohio lefty had trouble finding the plate with his array of 77-94 MPH pitches by walking five batters. He received a visit from pitching coach Jeff Ware who presumably told Smoral to re-establish his fastball after going offspeed for a number of pitches. Smoral was able to induce two double plays and pick off a runner at first base to minimize the damage. His best inning was his last as he struck out two of the three batters he faced, including a swinging strikeout on an 82 MPH offering. He allowed three hits and struck out five.
Alexis Maldonado got Vancouver's first hit of the day with a two-out single to center field in the third inning.
Roemon Fields followed with a triple that twisted Indians right fielder Luke Tendler like a pretzel in trying to catch it. That scored Maldonado to cut the Spokane lead to 2-1.
Tim Locastro lined one up the middle to score Fields and tie the game at 2-2.
Yeyfrey Del Rosario relieved Matthew Smoral and yielded the go-ahead run in the sixth on a double to Diego Cedeno (pictured here) and a two-out RBI single by Luke Tendler to make it 3-2 for the visitors.
Franklin Barreto singled up the gut to get the ball rolling for Vancouver in their half of the sixth. Barreto was balked to second base by Spokane starter Andrew Barnett and would proceed to steal third base.
Richard Urena got to the plate after a Jonathan Davis walk kept the inning going. He singled to right field to score Barreto from third with the tying run.
Jonathan Davis claps his hands after sliding across the plate head-first with the go-ahead run. He had moved to third base on Urena's single and pulled off a double steal with Urena, who was able to make it to third during the play. Urena would later cross the plate with an insurance run. Davis also played a big role with the glove by throwing out a runner at home from left field to end the first inning.
Andrew Case heaved away for two scoreless innings, overcoming a walk and an error along the way while getting through the heart of the Spokane order. He reached 92 MPH on the radar gun and struck out a batter.
Case's efforts set up Phil Kish, who got three quick groundball outs in the ninth for his ninth save as the C's held off Spokane 5-3. Kish gets congratulated by catcher Mike Reeves, who drove in the insurance run in the sixth. Getting ready to join Kish and Reeves in the celebration from left to right are Tim Locastro, Andrew Case, Jonathon Wandling and Matthew Smoral. The winning pitcher was Yeyfry Del Rosario.
Game 1 of the Northwest League North Division final is slated tonight, weather permitted. Lefthander Ryan Borucki (1-1, 1.90) gets the call on the mound for Vancouver against fellow southpaw Derek Thompson (4-6, 3.21). First pitch is at 10:05 pm Eastern. I'd be surprised if this game starts on time. It's been raining for most of the day and it appears it will continue into the night according to the forecast. It's supposed to be nicer here Wednesday so don't be too surprised if this game gets pushed back. Meantime, Spokane has loaded up their roster with three position players and three pitchers, mostly from the AZL Rangers. The C's last roster move was the return of Jonathan Davis from the disabled list.
With Monday's 4-1 victory in yesterday's regular season finale, the C's and Indians split their season set with six wins and six losses. Vancouver has made the Northwest League playoffs in all four years of its affiliation with the Blue Jays and its final season with Oakland to make it five straight post-season appearances. The C's hope to win their fourth straight championship to tie Spokane for the most consecutive titles so it's only fitting that the C's will need to get by the Indians in an effort to do just that. To quote Steely Dan, do it again!!!!
For more on the Canadians, check out the latest from Charlie Caskey in The Vancouver Sun. He is also saying slugger Rowdy Tellez may be on his way to join the C's for their playoff drive.
