The Vancouver Canadians were downed by the Spokane Indians 8-5 at Nat Bailey Stadium on Sunday.
Canadians starter Anders Tolhurst plunked Braiden Ward to start the ball game. Ward stole second and scored on a one-out single by Juan Guerrero. A Ryan Ritter 6-4 fielder’s choice forced Guerrero before Ritter stole second and scored on a two-out single to left by Nic Kent. A throwing error allowed Kent to move to second. Robby Martin Jr. then doubled to left-center to bring in Kent with the third Spokane run. Tolhurst did strike out Benny Montgomery looking for the first out before ending the bottom of the first by getting Ben Sems on a reverse K.
Spokane had a couple of two-out singles in the top of the second with Ward reaching base on a hot smash that handcuffed Williams at first before Montgomery singled to right. Ward and Montgomery executed a double steal before Guerrero walked to load the bases. Ritter cleared the bases with a three-run double to center to make it 6-0 for the Tribe. Kent then doubled to the left field fence to bring around Ritter for a 7-0 Spokane lead.
Robinson Hernández—a last-minute substation for Evan Shawver—got the start for Spokane and set down the first four Canadians hitters before Josh Kasevich lined one over the left field fence into the porch to get Vancouver on the board. Gabby Martinez singled to right on the next pitch and Abiezel Ramirez pulled a single to left with two outs but that was it for the offence.
Sam Ryan came into the game to pitch the top of the third for Vancouver. A ground ball by Sems ate up Ramirez for an error at second to start the frame. Sems swiped second, went to third on a Jesus Ordoñez base hit to left and tagged up to cross the plate on a Bess sacrifice fly to restore Spokane’s seven-run lead. Ward forced out Ordoñez on a 1-6 fielder’s choice. Garrett Spain then ran down a liner at the right field warning track to get Montgomery for the third out.
Peyton Williams had a two-out single to left over the head of Sems at third but Doughty popped up to Hernandez off the mound who held onto the ball despite bumping with Sems to end the bottom of the third.
Ryan blanked Spokane in the top of the fourth by stranding a Kent single to center with two away. The bottom of the fourth saw the C’s get another home run to the left field porch, this time off the bat of Martinez who belted a one-out solo dinger off Hernández.
Sems singled to left to start the top of the fifth but Ordoñez hit into a 4-3 double play and Ryan struck out Bess to face the minimum.
Lyle Lin singled to center to begin the bottom of inning number five. Spain walked with one out but he was out on the front end of a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Williams.
Lefthander Cooper Benson got three fly ball outs to take care of Spokane in the top of the sixth. Cullen Kafka also had a 1-2-3 sixth out of the Spokane bullpen.
Benson struck out Ritter for the first out of the top of the seventh and ended it with a whiff of Martin for another spotless frame.
The C’s got a runner on base when Lin was hit by a pitch from Kafka with two outs and Devonte Brown got aboard with a walk. Spain singled to right to fill the bags but Williams flew out to Montgomery who made a running catch from left field to end the rally.
Ryan Boyer came out of the Vancouver arm barn for the top of the eighth, yielding a two-out triple by Cuba Bess that was just fair down the right field line. C’s manager Brent Lavallee appeared to argue that the ball should have been ruled dead as it went into the Spokane bullpen in foul territory but Bess was awarded the three-bagger. Kelly drew a walk but Boyer got Montgomery to fly out to the warning track in right
Cade Doughty greeted Kafka with a double to right and Kasevich drilled a single to left. Doughty had to make sure the ball went through but the ball was hit too hard to left for him to advance so he retreated back to second. Martinez hit a fly ball to right and Doughty and Kasevich were able to tag up and get into scoring position. Dasan Brown walked to force Kafka out of the game. Luis Amoroso took over on the hill for Spokane and Ramirez hit into a 4-6 fielder’s choice with Kent ranging well to his left to get Dasan Brown at second. Doughty came in to score on the play to make it an 8-3 game. Lin then singled to center to score Kasevich to cut the Spokane advantage to four. Devonte Brown walked to reload the bases but Spain got under one as he flew out to right for the third out.
Eric Pardinho was on the hill for Vancouver in the top of the ninth and struck out Guerrero and RItter to finish off a 1-2-3 frame.
Spokane brought in Angel Chivilli for the ninth and he gave up a leadoff homer to left by Williams. Doughty tried to flare a single to shallow left-center but Ritter ran it down with his back to the infield from his shortstop position for the first out. Kasevich walked and went to third on a Martinez double to left center. Dasan Brown flew out to right but Kasevich could not tag up to score. Ryan McCarty pinch-hit for Ramirez but struck out on three pitches to end the game.
C-Notes
Anders Tolhurst was charged with the loss as the C’s dropped to 73-46 overall and 35-19 in the second half. Everett is now three games back of Vancouver for first place in the second-half standings. It is looking more and more like the AquaSox will be the team to face the Canadians in the Northwest League championship next month.
The C’s have Monday off before ending their 2023 regular season home schedule against the Hillsboro Hops. The series opener is set for Tuesday night. Adam Macko is listed as the probable starter for Monty’s Mounties. The game will be carried on CanadiansBaseball.com and MiLB.TV at 7:05 p.m. with the voice of the C’s Tyler Zickel.
Devereaux Harrison is scheduled to start Wednesday’s game for Vancouver.
Radar Gun Rundown
Anders Tolhurst was at 80-95 miles per hour with two strikeouts at 94. Sam Ryan was at 83-95 with a strikeout at 84. Cooper Benson was at 78 with a whiff at 92. Ryan Boyer was at 91-94 and Eric Pardinho was at 84-95 with punchouts at 86 and 87.
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