Vancouver Canadians Josh Winckowski

Josh Winckowski supplied five innings of two-run ball for the Vancouver Canadians Monday.

C's RecapThe Vancouver Canadians have dropped the opening series of their 2018 schedule after a 2-0 loss to the Eugene Emeralds at P.K. Park Monday night.

Fernando Kelli gave the Emeralds the lead with a leadoff home run on just the second pitch of the game off Josh Winckowski.

Jonathan Soto would single and go to third on a Gustavo Polanco double before scoring on a Jonathan Sierra ground out to second to make it 2-0 Eugene after one. Winckowski would make it through five innings and allowed just two more baserunners on a hit by pitch and a Bryan Lizardo error at third. Seven of Winckowski’s outs in play were on the ground.

Vancouver Canadians Justin Watts

Justin Watts contributed two shutout innings out of the bullpen Monday.

Justin Watts threw two scoreless frames and struck out three to offset a hit and a walk. Denis Diaz gave up a hit but struck out one to put up a zero in the eighth.

Emeralds starter Ryan Williams outdueled Winckowski by scattering three hits over six shutout innings without walking nor striking out anybody. He kept his infielders on their toes with 11 ground ball outs. Luis Aquino kept the shutout going by posting zeros in the seventh and eighth innings. Dalton Geekie gave up a leadoff single to Nick Podkul who lined one up the middle to start the ninth. Geekie would retire the side in order with a couple of strikeouts along way the way to pick up the save.

Christoper Bec had two of Vancouver’s four hits and had the only extra-base hit with a double. Freddy Rodriguez had the other base rap.

Eugene committed four errors in this one but the C’s could not make them pay as they went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

C-Notes

C's NotesOwen Spiwak nearly hit a two-run home run in the third inning but his fly ball was caught a couple of feet short of the right field fence. Behind the plate, Spiwak threw out one of three basestealers but it could have been two had Podkul been able to hang on to  the ball at second as Spiwak’s throw was in plenty of time.

A throwing error by Cam Balego at third allowed McGregory Contreras to reach base but instead of running hard towards second, Contreras took his time moving the extra 90 feet. Much to his surprise, Em’s second baseman Luis Diaz chased down the ball in foul territory and threw it to Luis Vazquez at short and he applied the tag on Contreras to end the inning. Manager Dallas McPherson argued the ball was out of play but the base umpire ruled otherwise.

The C’s best opportunities to score were in the first and eighth innings. Bec singled with one out and made it to second on a Kelli error that allowed Nick Podkul to reach. However, Sterling Guzman rapped into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Bryan Lizardo earned a leadoff walk in the eighth and a throwing error by Em’s pitcher Luis Aquino in trying to start a double play allowed Lizardo to make it to second and Jesus Navarro to reach first. However, Aquino struck Tanner Kirwer and got Bec on an infield pop-up to get out of the eighth to strand pinch-runner Brandon Polizzi and Navarro. The inning might have been bigger had a borderline call on a high pitch went for ball four to Spiwak instead of strike three for the first out of the eighth.

The series wraps up Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. Rob Fai will have the call on CanadiansBaseball.com. You can also watch the game on MiLB.TV.

Best wishes to 2012 C’s outfielder D.J. Davis and 2015 shortstop J.C. Cardenas as they were released by the Blue Jays according to Baseball America. Davis was a member of the C’s 2012 Northwest League championship team. His best moment was in the deciding Game 3 of the Northwest League final when he went 3-for-5 with a run scored during the C’s 12-9 victory over the Boise Hawks in Idaho.

For Cardenas, his most memorable game happened on his 21st birthday in 2015 when his two-run single capped off a two-run rally in the ninth to walk off the Hillsboro Hops on June 27.

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Published by Niall O'Donohoe

My name is Niall O’Donohoe and I am an avid follower of baseball. My blog beginnings began in 2007 with Batter’s Box under the alias #2JBrumfield. The blog formerly known as Niall On Baseball, C’s Plus Baseball strives to deliver plus coverage of the C’s through photos, observations and interviews of the players striving to make it to the major leagues. If you like what you see here, please spread the word about CsPlusBaseball.ca through your favourite social media platform. This blog began just before the C's championship season in 2017 and the goal is to deliver awesome content about Canada’s only affiliated professional minor league baseball club. Thanks a million for being here!

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