The affiliates had a rough cut Tuesday, losing seven out of nine. The only highlights were a split of a doubleheader in Florida and a win north of the border.

The Vancouver Canadians are within a game of .500 after winning the opener of their three-game series against Tri-City Monday night at The Nat.



1996 Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen and Canadians closer Andrew Case walk off the field after the ceremonial first pitch.

The affiliates won four and lost four on Monday.  A pair of one-run losses were the lowlights. A doubleheader sweep and slugfest were the highlights. Lansing had the night off.

The Vancouver Canadians and Everett AquaSox wrapped up a three-game series last Tuesday with the C's trying to avoid a sweep.



With Jon Wandling summoned up to Lansing, lefty Michael Kraft got his first professional start. He pitched 1-1/3 innings and coughed up four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two.

Good pitching and some big innings generated four wins. Buffalo got good pitching from Todd Redmond and Ryan Tepera in a low scoring win. New Hampshire got lots of runs for Austin Bibens-Dirkx. Dunedin also scored lots of runs for Shane Dawson, Anthony Alford had three hits. Lansing lost a close, high scoring, game, Clinton Hollon had one to forget. Vancouver won a close one with a ninth inning run. Bluefield had a bad loss.

The affiliates won just two out of seven on Saturday thanks in part to two walk-off losses. The good news was a walk-off win and a shutout victory. Dunedin's game in Brevard County was rained out.

A splitsville Friday for the affiliates in their eight games. One game involved a steal of home for the winning run and Vancouver got a solid start and an even better finish from its pitchers.

Conner Greene was probably the only standout performer on the farm prospect-wise. A couple old hands had good nights and there were a few strong pitching performances. The affiliates went 4-4.

Wednesday saw a lot of close finishes. Buffalo took a five run lead to the ninth inning and turned the game over to Joba Chamberlain. Ezequiel Carrera had to throw out the tying run at the plate to preserve the win. Bluefield broke a tie in the top of the ninth for a one run win. The GCL Jays had a walk off win. New Hampshire went to extras but conceded a grand slam. Lansing went to extras and lost in a more routine fashion. Vancouver did it early, walking their way to a loss in the eighth. Dunedin had a non-close loss.

Andy Burns had three hits and four RBI's for Buffalo. Dalton Pompey had two hits. DJ Davis had a nice night. Sean Reid-Foley and Jose Espada ran hot and cold.

New Hampshire and Dunedin were bombed and Bluefield was blown away in a doubleheader sweep. That's the bad stuff out of the way. The good news was the affiliates won six out of 11, including a doubleheader victory and a walk-off win.


The Vancouver Canadians celebrate a walk-off victory over Everett thanks to Sean Hurley's RBI double. Hurley almost lost his shirt in the celebration.

Please don't Bristol at the headline! The affiliates took three out of five Monday. Buffalo's game with Rochester was rained out and will be made up on Thursday as part of a doubleheader. Bluefield's home game against Pulaski was also washed away and they'll play a double dip today. New Hampshire and Lansing had the night off.

The Vancouver Canadians dropped the opening game of a series at home for the fifth straight time, losing to the Everett AquaSox Sunday afternoon.



Vancouver catcher Ryan Hissey has the baseball under his foot after Everett's Alex Jackson is hit by a pitch from Jon Harris in the first inning. That scored the game's first run and Everett would add three more to build a 4-0 lead.

Roster update also below the fold.

The affiliates had two wins on Sunday. Anthony Alford had four hits in the Dunedin win including a walk off double in the ninth. Scott Copeland pitched seven shutout innings to lead Buffalo to a win. In the four losses the opponents scored four runs in either the first or first two innings to open deficits that were fatal to the chance for a win. A couple of pitching prospects had rough starts, Angel Perdomo, and Jonathan Harris were gone early.

Another 4-4 day on the farm with two excellent starting performances as the highlights.

The Vancouver Canadians were able to rebound from a series opening loss to Spokane by winning the final two games against the Rangers affliate at Nat Bailey Stadium Friday and Saturday.

Friday


Justin Atkinson lifts a fly ball to right field in the sixth inning.