Frasso, Bats Provide Fireworks In July 4th Win At Everett

EVERETT, WA – An explosive High-A debut from Nick Frasso and a season-high four home runs sparked the Vancouver Canadians to an 8-4 win over the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) in front of a sellout crowd at Funko Field Monday night.

Before the hard-throwing right-hander took the hill, the Canadians offense leapt out to an early lead. Steward Berroa kick-started the bats with a lead-off triple and Addison Barger followed with his team-high thirteenth homer of the season to make it 2-0 after two hitters. Damiano Palmegiani cranked one deep later in the inning to put the C’s in front 3-0.

Frasso broke into the Northwest League in near historic fashion. The Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA native began his night by getting a pop out from top Mariners prospect Noelvi Marte on his very first pitch then struck out big league rehabber Kyle Lewis in a full count. He went on to strike out the next seven batters he faced and was one shy of tying the league record for consecutive punch outs when Marte led off the fourth with another pop out. His lone blemish came in his final inning, when he issued a two-out walk before striking out the final man of his night to finish with 10 Ks, a C’s single game high. His final line: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K.

Garrett Spain started the fifth with a solo homer to put Vancouver ahead by four runs, but Everett took advantage of three walks – including one with the bases loaded – to tie the game in the bottom of that inning, though Juan Nunez (W, 2-0) came on with two outs and stranded the go-ahead run at third.

The C’s retook the lead in the top of the seventh. Miguel Hiraldo started things with a double, stole third and scored on an infield single from Glenn Santiago. Nunez continued to get outs and finished with two and a third innings of scoreless relief before PK Morris – with the table set by a Palmegiani double – cracked his first home run in six weeks to make it 7-4.

Jol Concepcion worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, the Canadians added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with two singles and an error then Concepcion finished the job in the last of the inning to secure an 8-4 win.

Palmegiani’s six total bases paced the offense. Eight different hitters recorded a knock and five had at least one RBI. The pitching staff combined for 18 strikeouts, matching a single game best this year.

With the win, the Canadians are back at .500 (36-36) for the first time since June 7 (24-24). It also improved their record to 6-5 on America’s Independence Day since becoming a Blue Jays affiliate before the 2011 season. They are alone in first place in the second half standings.

After an off day on Tuesday, Vancouver returns to action in Everett on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. #7 Blue Jays prospect Sem Robberse makes the start for the C’s opposite #28 Mariners prospect Prelander Berroa. Coverage can be found on CanadiansBaseball.com and the Sportsnet Radio Network.