C’s Recap — C’s Fall to Emeralds In Pitching Duel, Series Even At Two Games a Piece

After their 8-0 whitewash of the Eugene Emeralds on Thursday night, The Vancouver Canadians were 2-1 losers to the Emeralds on Friday afternoon at the Nat.

The Canadians still have their hold on first though at 26-22 with the Spokane Indians still a game back at 25-23 after they have lost consecutive games to the Tri-City Dust Devils including an 11-3 loss on Friday.

There are two games left for the Canadians and Emeralds in their six-game set with 1:05pm starts today and Sunday.

C’s Pitching Was Strong, Emeralds Just That Much Better.

It was Rafael Sanchez who falls to 0-3 for Vancouver and Eugene’s John Michael Bertrand with the win and a 2-2 record, who held their opponents scoreless for the first two innings.

The Emeralds Edison Mora blasted a solo home run to start the third inning but Sanchez continued what was really a strong start but retiring eight more Eugene batters.

Bertrand was pitching a gem into the 5th but it was the C’s Michael Turconi who rapped a double down the third base line.

He might have been stuck with the loss, but Rafael Sanchez was very good today in his Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadum debut to be the Sleeman Clear 2.0 Player of the Game.

Cheers, Rafa! pic.twitter.com/Nfl7DzA7M9
— Vancouver Canadians (@vancanadians) June 2, 2023

That put Vancouver in a great position to score as Jommer Hernandez blooper became an RBI double after the Emeralds Carter Howell made an error on the play.

Eugene immediately hit back against Sanchez in the visitors half of the sixth with consecutive singles followed by the Canadians pitcher balking and allowing both runners to advance.

Sanchez Pulled But Mendoza Can’t Stop Eugene

Sanchez then walked a runner, loading the bases and Vancouver pulled Sanchez in favour of Abdiel Mendoza in relief. The Emeralds did score one to make 2-1 on a sacrifice fly but Mendoza shut them down.

Vancouver had chances to score in their half of the sixth and seventh innings and had their best in the ninth when Garrett Spain doubledThe with one out but the C’s couldn’t convert that into the tying run.