The Everett AquaSox continue to have the Vancouver Canadians‘ number in 2019. The AquaSox rallied again for the second straight night to down the Canadians 5-3 at Nat Bailey Stadium Wednesday.
Vancouver was down a run just two pitches into the game when Patrick Frick singled to right and Connor Hoover tripled to right off Juan Diaz. One out later, Cesar Izturis Jr. reached on an infield single to first as Yorman Rodriguez had nowhere to throw to as Hoover took off on contact to score and Diaz did not cover the first base bag. Diaz got out of the inning by picking off Izturis at first and striking out Cash Gladfelter.
The Canadians would tie the game in the fourth when Tanner Morris picked up a single for the team’s first hit of the night. Morris lined oneup the middle off Kelvin Nunez to snap a string of nine men retired in a row. Rodriguez followed with a base knock of his own to get Morris to second. Afer hitting a ball that had home run distance but went foul down the left field line, McGregory Contreras hit into a fielder’s choice to force Rodriguez at second but Hoover’s throw was off the mark at first and that allowed Morris to score. Will Robertson then doubled to right to score Contreras all the way from first with the tying run.
Vancouver pushed ahead in the fifth when Luis De Los Santos singled to left and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. The throw from Bins behind the plate hit De Los Santos as he slid into the bag. Ronny Brito stepped up and drilled a double to left to score De Los Santos. The C’s could not bring Brito home as Dom Abbadessa, Morris and Rodriguez all grounded out, leaving Brito at third.
Nicolas Medina took over for Diaz in the seventh inning but ran into problems after striking out Carter Bins. DeAires Moses singled and went to second on a Philip Clarke passed ball. Medina walked Frick but Hoover hammered one over the right field wall for a three-run homer.
Luke Gillingham was perfect over two frames to give the C’s their chances in the late going but Matt Martin took care of business by shutting down the Vancouver bats over the final four frames to get the win.
Radar Gun Rundown
Nunez was at 71-77, 81-85, 88, 89, 92 and 93 miles per hour with a strikeout at 76, 90 and 85. Medina checked in a 75-77 and 88-90 with a whiff at 76. Gillingham clocked in at 72-73 and 85-87 with a strikeout at 87.
C-Notes
Eden made a nice catch on Izturis to end the fifth as he ran one down in left-centre field to help Nunez strand a pair of runners.
The AquaSox bullpen brigade made close to zero effort on getting out of the way of a foul ball lifted to right field by Gladfelter in the top of the sixth. Robertson tried to chase it down but had to contend with a couple of relievers standing around in the bullpen and could not get to the ball. Home plate umpire Andrew Clark appeared to reprimand the offenders. Gladfelter would later pop out to second.
Izturis dealt with a tricky hop on an Eden ground ball to short and made the play to retire Eden to start the bottom of the seventh.
Abbadessa was called out on a close play at first base after a ground ball to third to start the eighth. C’s manager Casey Candaele argued the play with base umpire Kyle Stutz. That especially hurt when Morris proceeded to double over the head of Tingelstand in right field as the ball bounced off the wall. Rodriguez struck out by chasing ball four but Clarke drew a walk to represent the potential tying run. Morris and Clarke would be stranded when Contreras went down swinging. The C’s went down in order in the ninth.
The Canadians play their final home game in the month of July on Thursday afternoon. Nick Fraze gets the start for Monty’s Mounties and is set to throw the first pitch at 1:05 pm. Jared DiCesare (pronounced ‘dee-SESS-sir-ree’, like accessory) is expected to follow Fraze and make his debut at Nat Bailey Stadium. The game will be on Sportsnet 650 and CanadiansBaseball.com. Rob Fai will have the play-by-play.
C-Tweets
C's Plus Baseball | A Vancouver Canadians Blog 