12 Inning Thriller

With the days getting shorter and the weather turning somewhat cooler playing under the lights for Vancouver’s Single “A” Canadians are top dollar entertainment for yet another sold-out crowd.

The C’s dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Spokane in a game that saw Spokane allow only one run sending the C’s home 3-3 on the trip.

Vancouver (8-14) now falls five games back of Spokane with only 16 games remaining and opened up a three game home series against the 9-13 Boise Hawks.

One thing that you can say about the Vancouver Canadians is that you’ll never go home saying that there was a lack of entertainment for your dollar value or miss out on the foot-long hot dog!!

The return home saw the C’s play in front of a sellout crowd that was clearly in party mode from the opening pitch to the last strike out.

The battle continued scoreless through three and eventually saw the C’s score after a long hit to left field giving the C’s a stand-up double scoring the runner from second. They added an extra rums in the bottom of the 5th, but allowed Boise to grab two runs in the top of the 6th tying the game at two.

Despite the score the “party mode” continued and say what you will the fans, well mostly the women come to watch the dancers, but everyone loves it as you’ll be entertained to a new routine each game.

The bottom of seven saw the C’s with a runner on second and a shallow hit ball to SS caught the runner advancing from second to third only to be tagged out on the throw, but putting a runner on first.

The remainder of the inning wasn’t friendly for the C’s as a throw home forced the home plate umpire to check with his partner who ruled that he swung forcing the second out.

The next pitch saw the runner on first attempt a steal to second, but was tagged out on the throw from the catcher retiring the side.

The C’s sent Pasco (6.28 ERA)  to the mound replacing Ponce to start the eighth, only to get a bunt falling in front of the plate and the ensuing throw wasn’t in time leaving the runner on first.

As daylight turns to dusk we began to see shadows on the diamond, but it failed to dim the spirit of the sellout crowd.

The bottom of the 8th saw Lopez get hit with the ball putting him on first advancing Tanner Morris to second bringing Clarke (.276 Avg) to the plate.

With a 2-2 coung a passed ball advanced both runners leaving Clarke with a 3-2 count only to be  walked loading the bases.

Robertson (.236 Avg) stepped in  getting a 3-2 count with the bases loaded only to be struck out and another trip to the mound for Boise.

With two out Schiwecke steps in in hopes of clearing the bases with a 2-2 count taking a strike retiring the side sending Boise to the top of the 9th.

The C’s sent Pascoe (5.87 ERA) to the mound who walked hit (Cote )the first batter giving him a free pass to first.

Metz flys out to RF for out #2 that saw Quijada pop out to second base Morris retiring the side taking the game to the bottom of the ninth.

Leading off for the C’s in the top of the 9th is Brito (.216 AVG) only to take a fast ball for the first out sending Contreras to the plate who send his third pitch in the BBQ area of the Nat followed by a called third strike.

De Los Santos steps in only to see Harlow deliver an off-speed pitch for call strike two but hammered the next pitch up the middle getting on first.

Ramos is looking at sending in the winning run with two out only to send him to first having runners on first and second, bringing Morris to the plate only to hit a grounder to first retiring the side sending the teams to the top of the 10th.

They played extra innings until the bottom of the 12th when Stephen Jones delivered a wild pitch that saw McGregory Contreras cross the plate from third.

Vancouver managed to go 1-for-13 with several runners in scoring position while Boise went 3-for-18, while each team left ten runners on-base.

Vancouver remains five games back of North Division leading Spokane and Sunday’s contest has Juan Diaz get the call on the mound for the C’s for the 1 pm game.

The North West Single A league is for instruction and development. Here 3rd base coach #24 Daniel Canelisa passing on info to SS #26 Tanner Morris (98)

Tall Canadians LHP #17 Luke Gillingham (94) got the W.

Game time on the Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium on a beautiful night.

One thing that we can’t forget is that this is an instructional league for all players and it’s great to see a hands-on approach!!