Five-Run First Stands Up In C's Win

PASCO, WA – Five runs in the top of the first proved to be enough for the Canadians Friday night at Gesa Stadium in Pasco, as they evened the series with the Tri-City Dust Devils [Angels] via an 8-2 win.

A flurry of action in the opening frame put the C’s on top for good. Garrett Spain started the rally with a one-out walk then raced home on a double from Josh Kasevich to start the scoring. Peyton Williams tattooed the next pitch for an RBI two-bagger of his own, went to third on a ground out and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Nick Goodwin. Jommer Hernandez followed with a two-run shot to make it 5-0 Vancouver.

Tri-City got two in the bottom of the second, but that would be all that starter Hunter Gregory would allow in three innings. He was followed by three scoreless frames of relief authored by Leam Mendez (W, 1-0) that featured five Ks, a pair of zeroes from Ian Churchill (H, 4) and a 1-2-3 ninth from Naswell Paulino to secure the victory.

The late innings were a little less harrowing for the Canadians thanks to a two-out, two-strike triple from Jeff Wehler that scored three runs – all had reached on walks – in the eighth to pad the Vancouver lead to six as they went on to win 8-2.

All nine starters reached base and seven had a hit. Williams, Goodwin and Wehler paced the offense with two hits apiece and Hernandez reached base four times thanks to two walks and a hit by pitch.

The C’s can retake the series lead Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. when they send Rafael Sanchez to the mound opposite Erik Rivera. Coverage is available on the Sportsnet Radio Network.