The Vancouver Canadians fell to 0-2 to start the second half of the Northwest League season but they rebounded with their first win to split their doubleheader against the Hillsboro Hops, an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate, at Nat Bailey Stadium Thursday night.

Game one starter Andrew Case drops a ball at first base that would eventually lead to a second run for Hillsboro in the third inning. The New Brunswick native struck out his first batter looking but that was the only K he registered in three innings. He allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits and three walks. He reached 95 miles per hour with one pitch but was usually around 90 for his outing.

Our Future Game representatives had solid nights down in AA, but Raul Valdes was the star tonight pitching Buffalo to victory.

On Wednesday the affiliates were 1-5, with 2 PPD games. The only win came from Lansing in a walkoff victory in extra innings.

In a best-of-seven, the affiliates came up short Tuesday with a 3-4 record. Lansing had the night off.

The affiliates lost five out of nine Monday, thanks in large part to a doubleheader sweep and a come from ahead loss. The Mariners affiliates were of no help whatsoever, handing Jays farm clubs two losses and costing another a playoff spot.

The affiliates were 3-3 today with a bunch of strong hitting and starting pitching performances. DJ Davis helped Lansing, and Jon Berti helped New Hampshire with walk off hits, leading their team to victory.

Matt Smoral struck out nine in five innings and Richard Urena had three hits to lead Bluefield to victory. Scott Gracey one-upped Smoral as he struck out seven in 2.2 innings. Sean Nolin made a rehab start for Dunedin but the hitters won the game by batting around twice. Vancouver won easy with Jairo Labourt leading the way.

Buffalo's hitters are quiet, like the big club, and they lost. Daniel Norris was bombed even though Dalton Pompey and Andy Burns had a couple of hits each. Lansing also lost with yours truly watching.

Franklin Barreto had four hits, scored three runs and rove in three to lead Vancouver to a win. Andy Burns, Dalton Pompey and KC Hobson homered to pace New Hampshire to a win. Dunedin also won while the GCL Jays split a doubleheader. Buffalo, Lansing, and Bluefield lost.

Minor league baseball to be had.

The affiliates were 3-2, with a PPD game for the GCL Jays, and off-days for New Hampshire and Buffalo. 

There were only three games on the schedule and the affiliates won them all Tuesday. Prospect watchers in Vancouver finally got to witness the debut of the 11th overall pick of the 2014 MLB draft.


Max Pentecost belted a double to collect his first pro hit on Canadian soil in the third inning.

The affiliates lost four of our seven Monday night. Lansing, Vancouver and the boys in the Dominican got the job done. Buffalo had the night off.

Today the affiliates were 2-4, with wins coming from the lower minors affiliates in Bluefield and Vancouver.  Daniel Norris, and Dalton Pompey were in Minnesota for the Futures Game and had strong performances.

Richard Urena hit a game winning home run in extra innings for Bluefield. John Anderson had a great start to gain a split of a doubleheader for New Hampshire. Mitch Nay drove in two runs in Lansing's win. Buffalo, Vancouver and the GCL Jays lost. Dunedin were rained out. Chase De Jong, Joey Aquino and Angel Perdomo each pitched well.

The affiliates didn't have a win on Friday until the clock turned to Saturday and Vancouver saved the day. Poor starting pitching took most of the blame, Deck McGuire, Scott Copeland, Brent Powers and Evan Smith all had rough starts. Kendall Graveman did have a good start but Dunedin lost anyway. The lone winner, Vancouver, had excellent pitching from Miguel Castro and Yeyfry Del Rosario.

Matt Newman took the hitting honours with four hits in a losing cause. Dawel Lugo had three hits.