Justin Maese – Eight Exceptional Innings

In a victory that moved the Vancouver Canadians to within a game of top spot in the North Division, the C’s got a grand slam from 3B Bryan Lizardo and eight spectacular innings from RHP Justin Maese (2-2) on Saturday night.

It took just minutes for the sold out crowd of 6,413 to jump from their collective seats as 3B Bryan Lizardo hit his first career grand slam in the bottom of the 1^st inning off of Tri-City LHP Will Headean who allowed eight earned runs over his three innings of work.

The Canadians offense was dominant out of the gates scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the 2^nd and 3^rd innings to break the game open early.

Canadians RHP Justin Maese (my-ESSAY) was extraordinary just days after taking a line drive off of his forearm against Spokane (July 3).

Maese struck out five over his eight innings, allowing just three hits, which included a two-run home run off the bat of Tri-City OF Mason Smith to break the shutout bid.

A run for the Dust Devils in the top of the 9^th off of Vancouver reliever LHP Stuart Holmes was all the offense could muster as Vancouver took the opener of a key three-game series, 8-3 the final.

With the victory, Vancouver moves to 12-11 on the season, while North Division leading Tri-City falls to 13-10.

Everett’s victory over Spokane improves the Aquasox to 12-11 as well, meaning Vancouver is tied for second in the North, just one game back of the Dust Devils with 15 games remaining in the first half.

Vancouver and Tri-City will play Sunday, July 10^th at 1:05pm as part of another exciting A&W Family Fun Sunday with gates set to open at 12:00pm.

The Canadians will send RHP Dalton Rodriguez to the mound in hopes of securing the series victory.

Tickets to Vancouver Canadians Baseball out at Scotiabank Field are available by calling 604.872.5232, online at http://vancouver.canadians.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t435or by visiting the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office at 4601 Ontario Street, Vancouver, B.C.