C's First In Blue Jays Org To 60 Wins
HILLSBORO, OR – Five stellar innings from Kevin Miranda and a pair of two-out, two-run homers were crucial in a 4-3 Canadians win over the Hillsboro Hops [D-Backs] at Ron Tonkin Field Tuesday night, their system-best 60th win of the year to improve to 60-36 in 2023. After Miranda (W,
HILLSBORO, OR – Five stellar innings from Kevin Miranda and a pair of two-out, two-run homers were crucial in a 4-3 Canadians win over the Hillsboro Hops [D-Backs] at Ron Tonkin Field Tuesday night, their system-best 60th win of the year to improve to 60-36 in 2023.
After Miranda (W, 2-1) dispatched the Hops over the first two innings, the C’s took advantage of a Hillsboro error in the third to score all of their runs. Josh Kasevich started the inning with a ground ball to second base that Andrew Pintar threw away, though starter Joe Elbis (L, 1-4) got the next two batters out while holding the runner at first. Up stepped Devonte Brown, whose torrid July spilled over to the first day of August with a two-run blast the opposite way off the right field foul pole to make it 2-0.
Dasan Brown followed with an infield single to put a man on for Michael Turconi. The Beaver Falls, PA native uncorked his sixth homer of the year to not only put the C’s in front 4-0, but it extended his hitting streak to 14 games. He’s now reached base in a team-best 28 consecutive starts.
Miranda finished day in short order, becoming the pitcher of record on all of 47 pitches. Over five innings, he scattered two hits and didn’t walk a batter.
The Hops spoiled the shutout and made it a one-run game on a single swing. Two walks in the sixth were followed by a three-run homer by Christian Cerda, but Eric Pardinho bore down and got out of the inning then put up a zero in the seventh to keep Vancouver in front. Cooper Benson (S, 1) got the last six outs to earn his first professional save and the C’s won 4-3 in two hours and one minute, the shortest nine-inning game of the year.
With the win, the Canadians continue their stretch of winning after a loss. They haven’t dropped consecutive games since June 2 and 3.
Vancouver can secure a season series win over Hillsboro Wednesday night. #9 Blue Jays prospect Adam Macko goes up against #23 D-Backs prospect Dylan Ray. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and coverage is available on CanadiansBaseball.com, the MiLB First Pitch app and the Sportsnet Radio Network.