Big Inning Proves Just Enough In Thrilling 4-3 Win

VANCOUVER, BC – A four-run third, an impressive long relief showing from Garrett Farmer and an acrobatic game-ending play helped the Vancouver Canadians beat the Spokane Indians (Rockies) 4-3 in front of a boisterous sellout crowd Saturday night at Nat Bailey Stadium.

We’ll start where it ended. With the C’s in front 4-3 and the tying run at third after a two-out triple in the ninth, top Rockies prospect Zac Veen hit a ball on the ground to first. PK Morris ranged to his right to make a backhand play then threw to the pitcher Ryan Boyer (S, 2), who was hustling to cover the bag. The throw was behind Boyer, but the 6-2, 225-pounder reached back to make the catch and managed to stretch his foot to the bag just ahead of the league leader in stolen bases to record the out, preserve the lead and secure the save.

Vancouver was still in front at that point thanks to Garrett Farmer’s superb showing out of the ‘pen. The Huntsville, AL native – who was signed by Toronto as a Minor League free agent in April of this year – went four strong innings, allowed two runs (one earned), two hits – both of which came in his final frame – worked around two errors behind him, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five to stymie the Northwest League’s most potent offense.

The C’s capitalized on a rare off inning for #15 Rockies prospect Joe Rock (L, 6-5) in the bottom of the third. Trailing 1-0 after Spokane manufactured a run on a single, a steal, a wild pitch and a ground out in the top of the frame, C’s newcomer Glenn Santiago started the comeback with a ringing triple off the left field wall to put the tying run at third via his first career High-A hit. Anthony Morales brought him in with a deep drive to right field that was caught for a game-tying sacrifice fly.

The next at-bat proved to be pivotal. Steward Berroa hit a tapper back to the first base side of the mound that seemed to be a sure out, but as Rock bent down to make a backhand glove grab the ball went in and out of his mitt to allow Berroa to reach on the E-1. With Tyler Keenan at the plate, Berroa stole second then swiped third before coming home on a wild pitch to put the Canadians in front 2-1. Keenan would eventually lace a double down the left field line and scored when #6 Blue Jays prospect Leo Jimenez stroked his tenth double of the year into the right-centerfield gap to make it 3-1 Vancouver. Jimenez went to third on an opposite field bloop single from PK Morris then came home on an RBI force out off the bat of Miguel Hiraldo to put the C’s ahead 4-1.

Jimmy Robbins made his third career High-A start and turned in an effective three innings in which he scattered four hits, allowed a single run, walked one and struck out two.

Jimenez paced the offense with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Eight of nine starters contributed a hit, a run or an RBI.

With the win, the C’s improved to 5-3 in the second half and have secured a series split with the Indians.

Vancouver and Spokane wrap up the Rockies affiliate’s final trip to The Nat this year on Sunday afternoon. Nick Frasso makes his High-A debut opposite Colorado’s #12 prospect Sam Weatherly. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. with coverage on CanadiansBaseball.com, MiLB.TV and the Sportsnet Radio Network.