Boise To Spokane – North Division Match-Up

With Canadians RF D.J. McKnight standing out at second base representing the game’s tying run in the top of the 9^th inning and two out, Boise closer RHP Julian Fernandez was able to get 2B Cavan Biggio to strike out, sending Vancouver to a 4-3 loss on Sunday evening out at Memorial Stadium in Boise, ID.

Boise built up an early four–run lead as Canadians starter RHP Dalton Rodriguez went four innings, scattering seven hits that allowed the Hawks to put a run on the board in both the bottom of the 1^st and 2^nd innings as well as a pair of runs in the home half of the 4^th.

Vancouver wouldn’t get onto the board until the top of the 5^th inning when in the final frame for Boise starter RHP Javier Medina, he left a fastball out over the plate that Canadians catcher Javier Hernandez hit back up the middle, scoring SS Yeltsin Gudino (walk) to cut the margin down to three.

The Canadians would grab a pair of runs in the top of the 7^th inning as 3B Bryan Lizardo and SS Yeltsin Gudino hit back-to-back singles off of Hawks reliever RHP Christian Talley before Lizardo came around to count on a wild pitch, and Gudino plated on a single off the bat of 2B Cavan Biggio.

The RBI, was Biggio’s 11^th of the season and brought the C’s to with a run after being down by as many as four.

Vancouver reliever RHP Geno Encina was brilliant over his four innings of work as he stopped the Boise offense cold in its tracks allowing just two hits, no runs while striking out five including the side in the bottom of the 5^th inning.

The Canadians offense had its chances, but from the 8^th inning on, the Hawks bullpen of RHP Marc Magliaro (1.0IP) and RHP Julian Fernandez (1.0IP) slammed the door on the game with Fernandez recording all three outs via the strikeout to pick up his 5^th save in as many chances, while securing the Hawks 12^th victory of the season.

With the loss, Vancouver falls to 15-15 (.500) on the season while the victory improves Boise to 12-18 (.400).

The Canadians now travel to Spokane, WA to open up a three-game series against the Indians in a crucial North Division match-up starting Monday, July 18^th at 6:30pm out at Avista Stadium.

Vancouver Canadians Baseball returns to Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium on Thursday, July 21^st at 7:05pm to host the Eugene Emeralds as this will represent the final five games of the first half chase to the pennant.

Tickets are available at http://www.canadiansbaseball.com/, by calling 604.872.5232 or by visiting the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office at 4601 Ontario Street, Vancouver, B.C.