Yonardo Herdenez gave up just one hit over three shutout innings Monday night.
The Vancouver Canadians began the second half of the Northwest League season at Volcanoes Stadium Monday night with a one-run loss, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
Reggie Pruitt had the first hit of the game by leading off with a double to right field off Jose Marte. After a Cullen Large strikeout, Pruitt stole third but was thrown out at home after Logan Warmoth grounded out to third. Warmoth ran the C’s out of the inning as he was caught trying to steal second.
Wilfri Aleton retired Malique Ziegler on a grounder to third to start the bottom half of the first but a walk to Logan Baldwin and a single by Bryce Johnson would be driven in by a Ryan Kirby sacrifice fly and an Orlando Garcia double to give Salem-Keizer a 2-0 lead.
The C’s would tie it in the second when Kacy Clemens walked and David Jacob singled. A bunt by Bryan Lizardo advanced the duo 90 feet before a throwing error by Garcia at second on a groundball by Norberto Obeso resulted in two runs crossing the plate.
Aleton got through the second despite a walk to Michael Sexton and a wild pitch thanks in part to a strikeout of Rob Calabrese but the Volcanoes regained the lead in the third when Baldwin singled, went to second on a Johnson groundout before stealing third and scoring on a throwing error by Matt Morgan behind the plate.
Norberto Obeso (right) drove in two of Vancouver’s three runs Monday night.
The C’s only got a Large single in the third but they would tie the game in the fourth. Jacob walked and scampered to third on a base hit by Lizardo before scoring on Obeso’s single to left.
Salem-Keizer would grab the lead again in the bottom of the fourth when Manuel Geraldo singled, went to second on a passed ball and stole third before scoring on a Calabrese base knock. Calabrese would steal second and get to third on a wild pitch but Aleton would strike out Junior Amion and Ziegler to escape further trouble.
Vancouver started a two-out rally when Warmoth singled and Clemens walked with both of them advancing a base on a wild pitch but Aaron Phillips overcame his wayward offering to get Jacob on an inning-ending groundout.
Yonardo Herdenez entered the game for Aleton and retired the Volcanoes 1-2-3 to complete the fifth. The C’s tried again to get even when Obeso singled and Barreto walked with one out but they would not get any further.
Herdenez enjoyed his second perfect inning but the C’s would do nothing before ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame’ was heard. Herdenez retired seven in a row before Calabrese singled with one out in the eighth but a strikeout of Ziegler helped Herdenez navigate that speed bump.
Lizardo and Barreto both singled in the eighth and moved up to third on a wild pitch but the C’s were denied again when Pruitt went down swinging.
Bobby Eveld had a 1-2-3 eighth inning to give the C’s one more chance in the ninth that began with a Large double but Andy Rohloff struck out Warmoth and Clemens before Jacob flied out to end it.
Large, Lizardo and Obeso all had two hits while Jacob and Barreto were on base twice with a hit and a walk. The C’s were a dismal 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position, leaving 11 men on base.
Aleton took the loss as his record goes to 2-4 with a 6.27 ERA. Herdenez brought his ERA down to 3.38 with his three scoreless frames.
C-Notes
The C’s go to Pasco, Washington to face the team they outlasted in the North Division for the first time this season. Tuesday’s game marks the set of a home-and-home series that will see Vancouver play three in Tri-City before the Dust Devils and C’s head north to Nat Bailey Stadium for a weekend set. Jose Espada is expected to start the series opener for Vancouver. First pitch is at 7:15 pm and can be heard on CanadiansBaseball.com.
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