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Tanner Kirwer looks up in frustration after the final out at Nat Bailey Stadium Thursday.

C's RecapThe Vancouver Canadians have been shutout in three of the first six games of the 2018 season. The C’s were blanked 1-0 by the Everett AquaSox at Nat Bailey Stadium Thursday. The only run came on a home run by Geoandry Montilla in the second inning off Vancouver starter Randy Pondler. The Everett first baseman’s blast landed over the short fence in left field.

AquaSox starter Carlos Hernandez entered the game with an earned run average of 189.00 after giving up seven runs in one-third of an inning against Hillsboro June 16. He whittled that down to 9.95 after six shutout innings. Cody Mobley added two shutout frames and submariner A.J. Franks earned the save with a scoreless ninth.

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Randy Pondler gave up just one run over six innings Thursday.

C’s lefty Randy Pondler has had no run support in his two starts. The Nicaraguan lefty pitched six innings and scattered four hits and two walks while whiffing six over six innings. He also picked off a runner that was bracketed by a couple of strikeouts in the third. Orlando Pascual had two shutout innings, striking out one. Connor Law gave up a double in the ninth to Charlie McConnell but he was thrown out trying to steal third by Owen Spiwak. Law struck out a couple of batters to give the C’s another chance in the ninth.

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Bryan Lizardo was the lone Canadian to reach base twice Thursday.

The C’s racked just five hits and a walk on the night. Bryan Lizardo led the way with a single and a walk while Vinny Capra had the lone extra-base hit with a double. Tanner Kirwer, Reilly Johnson and Brandon Polizzi had the other hits.

C-Notes

C's NotesThe C’s had their chances to get on the board. Lizardo and Johnson both singled to start the second inning but Lizardo was thrown out trying to steal second by Everett catcher Troy Dixon when Johnson was at the plate. Johnson was left stranded at second.

Symbolic of the C’s frustrations at the plate was Freddy Rodriguez swinging for the fences but striking out to end the fourth inning, losing his balance and tumbling to the ground in the process after whiffing on a fastball at 94 miles per hour.

Pondler was able to work around a leadoff double by Cash Gladfelter in the fifth. It looked like Matt Sanders had an infield single to short but he was called out at first and that led to Everett manager Jose Moreno coming out to argue. A wild pitch moved Gladfelter to third but he was thrown out at the plate. Lizardo stepped on first after a Ronald Rosario grounder to start a 3-2 double play with Spiwak making the tag on Gladfelter at the plate.

The C’s looked to respond in the home half of the fifth when Spiwak was plunked on the toe by Hernandez and he was able to take second on a wild pitch. Brandon Polizzi laid down a bunt single and that would have produced runners on the corners but Spiwak was tagged out at third by shortstop Ryne Ogren when he overran the bag.

The AquaSox appeared to have doubled their lead when Jake Anchia had the home run distance on a drive to left field but the ball was ruled foul. That drew the ire of the AquaSox dugout. Pondler then struck out Anchia on the next pitch to end the inning. Polizzi made the other two outs in right field, making a nice over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track to retire Cameron Perkins before Anchia stepped up to the plate. A couple of close calls at first base went against the C’s. Kirwer was called out trying to reach base after a grounder to third and Freddy Rodriguez was thrown out from second in the seventh after Sanders showed good range to get to the ball. That led to Vancouver manager Dallas McPherson coming out to argue Rodriguez’s case. The last gasp for the C’s came in the ninth when Kirwer led off a single up the middle. He got to second on a Nick Podkul tapper back to the mound and went to third on a grounder to short by Lizardo. Johnson would ground out to short to end the game.

This three-game series wraps up Friday afternoon with the first nooner of the season. Jose Espada (0-0, 15.00) gets the start for Vancouver. Orlando Razo (0-0, 3.18) goes for Everett in a 1:05 pm first pitch. Rob Fai will have the call on TSN 1040 and CanadiansBaseball.com.

 

Blue Jays legend Roberto Alomar has taken in the first two games of this series. He dropped by for a pregame interview with Rob Fai on TSN 1040 before Thursday’s game. Minor league pitching coordinator and 2014 C’s pitching coach Jeff Ware was also in attendance.

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Connor Law made his Nat Bailey Stadium debut with a scoreless ninth inning.

Radar Gun Rundown

radar_gun_iconPonder had strikeouts at 90, 89, 85 and 84 miles per hour with his offerings in the 80-90 range.

Pascual had a strikeout at 84 and reached 90 during his outing.

Law had strikeouts at 94 and 93.

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