Vancouver Canadians Josh Winckowski

Josh Winckowski delivered seven innings of shutout ball for Vancouver Sunday.

C's RecapIt was a playoff atmosphere at Nat Bailey Stadium and the Vancouver Canadians took an important step to getting back to the postseason in 2018 by upending the Spokane Indians 4-0 at Nat Bailey Stadium Sunday afternoon.  The C’s increased their lead to two games over Spokane atop the North Division.

The game was scoreless for seven-and-a-half innings before the C’s were finally able break through. Spokane starter Jake Latz gave up a Jesus Severino double down the right field corner and walked Sterling Guzman after running the count full to place runners at first and second. Latz tried to pick off Severino at second and threw the ball into center field. Severino thought about going to third before going back to second but Guzman was already halfway between first and second. Guzman caught a break when Indians center fielder Troy Dixon elected to hang on to the ball and not make a throw to first to double off Guzman. Nick Podkul laid down a bunt on the first offering from Latz and the lefthander elected to go to third to get Severino. His throw instead went down the left field line to allow Severino to cross home plate with the game’s first run.

Vancouver Canadians Yorman Rodriguez

Yorman Rodriguez provided insurance with a two-run single in the eighth.

Righthander Austin Pettibone came out of the bullpen for Spokane and retired Otto Lopez on a groundout to third on the first pitch he threw. Two pitches later, Pettibone snared a comebacker from Tanner Kirwer to keep Podkul and Guzman at second and third. Christopher Bec then chopped one to third but Cristian Inoa mishandled it and Guzman came in with Vancouver’s second run. Yorman Rodriguez grounded one up the gut to plate Podkul and Bec before getting thrown out at second to end the rally.

Josh Winckowski supplied seven shutout innings but it was Fitz Stadler who picked up the win by getting out of a big jam in the eighth. Cobi Johnson kept Spokane off the board for a 26th consecutive inning to clinch the series victory for Vancouver.

Vancouver Canadians Fitz Stadler Fitz Stadler earned the victory in relief with a scoreless eighth inning Sunday.

Radar Gun Rundown

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Winckowski worked around 94-97 miles per hour and hit 100 a couple of times. He also had pitches clocked in the mid-80’s. Two of his strikeouts were registered at 87 and 96.

Stadler hit 94 on the gun and was around 86-89.

Johnson was as low as 77 and as high as 92, 94 and 95. He had a pair of strikeouts at 80.

C-Notes

C's NotesThe first hit of this game came with two outs in the third when Podkul singled off Latz but was left stranded. Vancouver’s second hit came on an infield single from Rodriguez when Biggers slipped and fell as the ball went off the lip of the grass at short.

Winckowski did not allow a baserunner until a two-out double in the fourth by Kevin Mendoza that landed on the chalk of the right field line. Spokane threatened again on a one-out double by Tanner Gardner but Winckowski rung up Austin O’Banion and struck out Dixon swinging to stop that rally.

After stranding a two-out base hit by Tyler Depreta-Johnson in the sixth inning when Lopez made a nice running catch over the shoulder to retire Mendoza, Winckowski faced his biggest test in the seventh. Isaias Quiroz doubled to left and was bunted over to third by Inoa. Winckowski got a popup to short by Tanner Gardner for the second out. That brought Austin O’Banion to the plate and he battled Winckowski to an 11 pitch at-bat. After fouling off five pitches and working the count full, O’Banion went down swinging to leave the go-ahead run at third.

Vancouver Canadians Christopher Bec Christopher Bec stole a base, caught a base stealer and had a hit for Vancouver Sunday.

Spokane’s best chance to score was in the eighth when Dixon began the frame with a base hit up the middle against Stadler. Dixon was thrown out trying to steal second with pinch-hitter Starling Joseph at the plate. It appeared Joseph may have missed a hit-and-run sign. Joseph would work the count to ball four and scampered over to third on a Jax Biggers base hit to center. Tyler Depreta-Johnson worked the count full and drew a walk to load up the bases but Mendoza rapped into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. Jake Brodt used his 6-foot-5 to stretch and keep his foot on the first base bag to complete the twin-killing.

Vancouver manager Dallas McPherson was ejected by home plate umpire Nick McFarland for taking issue with the strike zone for Stadler.

Cobi Johnson had to work around an Inoa walk and a Gardner double with one out. He would strike out O’Banion and Dixon swinging to end the game. Bec was quick to act by jumping on the ball and throwing to first to complete the game-ending strikeout. Dixon thought the ball rolled foul and did not run to first.

Winckowski tossed a four-hit over seven frames and recorded six strikeouts and six groundouts. Stadler improved to 2-2 to get around two hits and two walks in a shutout eighth. Johnson stranded a single and a walk by striking out the side. Rodriguez had two of Vancouver’s five hits.

Vancouver Canadians Jesus Severino

Jesus Severino started the four-run rally in the eighth with a leadoff double.

Bec, Severino and Podkul had the others. Guzman drew the lone walk but the C’s only struck out three times. They were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded three. Bec stole his 11th base of the year.

Canadians broadcaster Rob Fai pointed out the team has been weekend warriors so far over the month of August. The C’s are a combined 6-0 on Saturdays and Sundays and 8-1 when Friday is entered into the mix.

The C’s are in Pasco, Washington for the first of three games against the Tri-City Dust Devils. The game from Gesa Stadium can be heard on CanadiansBaseball.com with Rob Fai beginning at 7:15 pm. Adrian Martinez (2-4, 6.42) will throw the first pitch for Tri-City. Elio Silva (3-2, 3.86) looks to be line for the start for Vancouver.

A couple of stories for your consideration from The Toronto Star. One is a story on 2014 former Vancouver Canadians righthander Sean-Reid Foley and another deals with 2011 C’s outfielder Kevin Pillar.

Vancouver Canadians Justin Shafer

2014 Vancouver Canadians righthander Justin Shafer made his major league debut Sunday.

C-Tweets

cs-tweetCongratulations to 2014 Canadians righthander Justin Shafer for getting the call to Toronto. The 25 year-old made his debut with a scoreless inning against the New York Yankees Sunday afternoon wearing Juan Guzman‘s old number 66.

The Lake Wales, Florida native began his pro career with Vancouver in 2014 after being selected by the Jays out of the University of Florida. Shafer was 1-3 with a 5.16 earned run average in 11 appearances, striking out 23 batters and walking seven over 22-2/3 innings. Splitting this season with New Hampshire and Buffalo, Shafer was a combined 5-5 with a 1.17 ERA and converted 16 out of 17 save opportunities with the Bisons.

 

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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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