Vancouver Canadians manager Dallas McPherson argues with home plate umpire Nick McFarland.
The Vancouver Canadians have company atop the Northwest League’s North Division. The Spokane Indians took the opener of their three-game series 4-1 at Nat Bailey Stadium Friday night. Both teams share identical 13-9 records.
Jose Espada needed 38 pitches to get out of the top of the first inning and only 20 were strikes. Starling Joseph led off with a double down the left field corner and Tanner Gardner got aboard on a walk. Espada would strike out Curtis Terry but Francisco Ventura lined a single to left on an 0-2 pitch to bring in Joseph with the game’s first run. The relay throw from shortstop Jesus Severino was in time but Christopher Bec dropped the ball when he tried to apply the tag on Joseph.
Espada’s next pitch was smoked off the right field wall by Kevin Mendoza banged a double to score Gardner and Ventura. The relay throw from second baseman Brandon Polizzi was in plenty of time to get Ventura but Bec would miss the tag. Mendoza would come in to count when Cristian Inoa flared a ball to center field on a broken bat.
Yerry Rodriguez won his second Northwest League start in as many tries for Spokane Friday.
Yerry Rodriguez shut Vancouver down over seven innings with just four hits and one walk allowed. His strikeout and groundball total were six apiece. Vancouver’s only run came in the eighth when Tanner Kirwer connected for his fourth home run of the season over Reggie Meyer. The save went to Sean Chandler as he recorded the final three outs.
Justin Watts, Will McAffer, Denis Diaz, Marcus Reyes and Orlando Pascual teamed up to provide eight shutout innings of relief for Vancouver.
Justin Watts kept Spokane in check with three shutout innings Friday.
Radar Gun Rundown
One of Espada’s strikeouts was clocked at 90 miles per hour. He was in the low-to-mid 80’s range with his offerings.
Watts registered strikeouts at 90 and 87 MPH. He was as low as 71 and as high as 91 and 92. McAffer had the curveball working with two strikeouts at 75. Diaz had one strikeout at 90. Pascual had one whiff at 83.
C-Notes
Vancouver skipper Dallas McPherson was not happy with the men in blue. He argued the safe call at home plate that resulted in the third run of the game and kicked dirt on home plate. McPherson also disagreed with a call in the seventh when Polizzi was ruled out by running into the ball out of the batter’s box. Polizzi tried to drop down a bunt up the first base side.
The Canadians got a lucky bounce on their first hit of the game. Bec hit a ball that caromed off the first base bag and he was able to beat it out to get on base.
Vancouver got the first two runners on in the second when Yorman Rodriguez lined one up the middle and Jake Brodt walked. McGregory Contreras went down on three pitches before Severino crushed a ball but lined out to left. Polizzi worked the count full before striking out.
Bec ended the top of the third with a nice throw to Severino to nab Inoa trying to steal second. The bottom of the third saw Bec line a double over the head of Joseph in center field with two away but Griffin Conine flied out in front of the manual scoreboard.
The C’s encountered more bad luck in the seventh when Contreras drilled one right at the shortstop before Severino was plunked in the back by Rodriguez. The inning ended on the aforementioned Polizzi bunt.
Tanner Kirwer homered in the eighth inning to give Vancouver its only run Friday.
Conine put an end to an 0-for-20 drought with a solid base hit to right field that came with two outs in the eighth. He saw his batting average drop 31 points to .245 during the skid.
Jake Brodt extended his hitting streak Friday after a 12-day absence.
Brodt began the ninth by ripping one up the middle to start the ninth. That was Brodt’s first action in 12 days after being on the shelf with an injury. The single extended Brodt’s hitting streak to a dozen games but he was forced out on a Contreras fielder’s choice. Severino hit into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
McGregory Contreras was forced out at second base in a game-ending double play Friday.
Vancouver had seven hits, one walk and one hit by pitch while striking out six times. There were no hits in four tries with runners in scoring position and seven runners were stranded. Bec had two hits while Brodt also reached twice with a knock and a walk.
Espada was rocked for four runs on four hits and two walks but had two strikeouts. That ended a string in which the Puerto Rican righthander had pitched at least five innings in his previous eight starts. Watts worked the next three frames and yielded just two hits while striking out three. McAffer also rung up three batters while pitching a one-hitter over two innings. Denis Diaz allowed just one hit and struck out one in the eighth. Pascual worked around an error by Polizzi at second and struck out one in the ninth. The bullpen had an impressive 9-0 strikeout/walk total over eight frames.
The second game of this series is set for 7:05 pm Saturday. Lefthander Randy Pondler (3-4, 3.38) gets the ball for Vancouver against Spokane righthander Scott Engler (2-5, 6.41). Rob Fai will have the play-by-play on CanadiansBaseball.com and TSN 1040. The Canadians have announced there will be no fireworks at this game to give firefighters one less thing to worry about given the high number of forest fires in the province.
CANADIANS: C’s had post-game fireworks scheduled for tomorrow (Aug 18) and have chosen to cancel this due to dry conditions & not wanting to potentially pull away any resources from firefighters who are currently working tirelessly to battle blazes throughout province.
— Rob Fai (@RobFaiNation) August 17, 2018
C-Tweets
C’s fans deserve playoff baseball for the incredible support they provide. https://t.co/k4niScZMfu
— Future Blue Jays (@FutureBlueJays) August 18, 2018
Jackson McClelland was on a plane from Tampa to Trenton early this morning, and finished his day by pitching a scoreless 9th in his AA debut. I like how Mgr John Schneider, who had him last year in Dunedin, didn’t hesitate to use him. This is why guys love playing for him.
— Future Blue Jays (@FutureBlueJays) August 18, 2018
Attending my first ever @vancanadians game alongside @AlishaPranjivan
Shout out to @RobFaiNation of @TSN1040 for always killing it on the broadcast!#AtTheNat pic.twitter.com/SyBpiHavw1
— Ronil Desai (@RonilDesai) August 18, 2018
Late night laundry music… #QueenOfSoul pic.twitter.com/Nx6juFlLfh
— Johnny Stewart (@CanadianClubby) August 18, 2018
Donnie Sellers returned from the DL with four solid innings, but the Whitecaps blanked the Lugnuts tonight, 5-0.
Tomorrow: THE MIGHTY WOMBATS.
RECAP: https://t.co/CSL7KXL00K
— Lansing Mighty Wombats (@LansingLugnuts) August 18, 2018
Gibbons said that Stroman’s blister was an issue again tonight and it’s possible he will require a stint on the DL. #BlueJays
— Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) August 18, 2018
Getting ready to cover the @vancanadians as they host the @spokaneindians at beautiful #NatBailey listening to @donsvoice on the #PA @UnderK9 for #UnderDogProductions pic.twitter.com/eS8dphAzU1
— Jorge Parra (@UnderK9) August 18, 2018
If you’re looking for a little nostalgia, all you have to do is head to the Nat!
I learn how to drive the @vancanadians bullpen cart in todays’s edition of Ann Luu’s In Your Shoes.
They take on the Spokane Indians tonight at 7:05!
Watch here: https://t.co/pNgQ2axPde pic.twitter.com/b3cZWIiq52
— Ann Luu (@ann_luu) August 18, 2018
Sean Reid-Foley will make his second start for the #BlueJays tomorrow afternoon against the Yankees. Get the scoop on the 22 y/o RHP from one of the people who knows him best: his “second dad Vince Horsman, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats pitching coach. https://t.co/mOAAUBvikQ
— Laura Armstrong (@lauraarmy) August 18, 2018
Jackson McClelland was on a plane from Tampa to Trenton early this morning, and finished his day by pitching a scoreless 9th in his AA debut. I like how Mgr John Schneider, who had him last year in Dunedin, didn’t hesitate to use him. This is why guys love playing for him.
— Future Blue Jays (@FutureBlueJays) August 18, 2018
Quality start by Patrick Murphy (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 5 K) isn’t enough to end losing skid, as Dunedin falls 2-1 to St. Lucie at home.https://t.co/KqZBrIQwk3
— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) August 18, 2018
It’s interview time with my cousin Vinny Capra. (Not really my cousin.)
— Around The Nest (@AroundNest) August 17, 2018
The Voice of the People, @LT__Murray, joins us now to talk about the Fisher Cats’ playoff push and Cavan Biggio’s heroic walkoff shot. https://t.co/Hmyd4LLEoD
— Around The Nest (@AroundNest) August 17, 2018
Sean Reid-Foley has said amazing things about pitching coach Vince Horsman. Hector Perez certainly will benefit from Horsman’s coaching.
— Around The Nest (@AroundNest) August 17, 2018
Cavan Biggio almost recorded a 9-2 double play, but the plate umpire called the runner safe. With that said, don’t expect Biggio to get regular time at right field. Juan Kelly is back in New Hampshire.
— Around The Nest (@AroundNest) August 17, 2018
Jared retires the first 11 batters in his 4th start as a pro, he goes 7.1 innings 4K 2BB 1 R yielding only 7 singles of which 5 were infield singles with two questionable calls. He faced 31 batters and gave up NO extra base hits. Amazing pic.twitter.com/QskRGsHNDk
— Maurice Carkuff (@carkuffm) August 17, 2018
How do you get a smile out of a pro baseball player at 5:30 am after a late night game?By making the trip to AA !Jackson has been promoted to the @FisherCats and will be available to pitch tonight. New Hampshire is in the thick of a playoff race too. So proud of him ! #McCloser pic.twitter.com/UQvijyAt90
— Tim McClelland (@Chiefmac64) August 17, 2018
Say cheese 🧀 #AtTheNat pic.twitter.com/svJjF0rmO7
— Vancouver Canadians (@vancanadians) August 16, 2018
After 13 excruciatingly long weeks I get to walk today. Still a long road ahead of me but it’s an exciting day #PayHim
— Christian Williams™ (@ChiWilly24) August 17, 2018
