Doubleheader Split Culminates First 'Nooner

VANCOUVER, BC – The first FortisBC ‘Nooner at The Nat in 2024 featured a doubleheader split for the Canadians, who took down the Hillsboro Hops [D-Backs] 2-0 to start the afternoon before falling 5-2 in the second game.

GAME 1 – Canadians 2, Hops 0 (7 innings)

After pitching a shutout on Wednesday night, the C’s pitching staff picked up right where it left off by twirling a seven-inning blanking of the Hops. Geison Urbaez made his first appearance since September 2022 and celebrated his return to the mound with four scoreless stanzas in which he allowed one hit – a single – walked two and struck out one to lead the way.

A two-run third proved to be the difference. Jeff Wehler legged out an infield hit and Nick Goodwin walked to put two men aboard for Ryan McCarty, who cracked a two-run triple to right field that put Vancouver ahead 2-0.

Urbaez was followed by single scoreless frames from Naswell Paulino (W, 1-0), Josh Mollerus (H, 1) and Justin Kelly (S, 1) to keep the Hops in check the rest of the way and secure the 2-0 triumph.

GAME 2 – Hops 5, Canadians 2 (7 innings)

Three costly errors turned a Vancouver lead in game two into a deficit they couldn’t overcome. Leading 2-0 thanks to a Nick Goodwin two-run homer in the third, the C’s were in control as starter Ryan Jennings (L, 0-1) cruised through three scoreless frames. Hillsboro – without a run since the ninth inning in the series opener on Tuesday – finally broke through after an error put a man aboard for a two-out, game-tying home run from Gavin Conticello.

Looking to keep the game tied, Jennings went back out for the fifth and struck out the first batter he faced. A seemingly innocent base hit on an 0-2 pitch to the next batter was the first unraveling of the inning before a wild pitch, a defensive obstruction call on a pick-off to second and a balk immediately afterwards allowed the go-ahead run to score from first without the Hops lifting the bat the bat off their shoulder. The future D-Backs added another run with a two-out walk, a steal, the second wild pitch of the frame and a throwing error trying to nab the runner at third that instead brought home Hillsboro’s fourth score. They would put another on the board in the sixth and went on to win 5-2.

Thanks to the game one win, the Canadians have secured a series split to start the home schedule and will aim for a series victory Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Right-hander Rafael Sanchez looks to continue his strong start to the season for Vancouver while Hillsboro has tabbed righty Cole Percival as their starter. Coverage will be available across the RE/MAX Canadians Broadcast Network – Sportsnet 650 (alternate stream) and Bally Live (MiLB TV). Tickets and more information can be found at CanadiansBaseball.com.