Jimenez Leads Onslaught In Seventh Straight Win

VANCOUVER, BC – #6 Blue Jays prospect Leo Jimenez had ten total bases in his first three at-bats to head an offensive outburst that included eight extra-base hits as the Canadians trounced the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 12-2 in front of a sellout crowd Saturday night at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Jimenez started his evening with a one-out triple in the bottom of the first but wouldn’t score until three consecutive two-out walks – the last of which was to Garrett Spain – forced home a run to give Vancouver an early 1-0 advantage.

The Hops scored a run in the second to tie it after an odd play on an errant throw from right fielder Steward Berroa, who was trying to throw out Caleb Roberts at first base following his ground ball that went through the 3.5 hole. The throw went wide of the bag, caromed off the bat boy – who had come out to get the bat – in foul territory on the first base side then rolled towards the on-deck circle on the third base side to allow Roberts to get to third. That set the table for run-scoring ground ball later in the inning to make it 1-1.

From there it was all Canadians. They took the lead for good in the third when Jimenez led off with a triple and scored on a Tyler Keenan RBI single before four runs in the fourth put the game away. Harry Ray started the frame with a walk and scored on Anthony Morales’ first triple of the season. Jimenez stepped up two batters later and clubbed his third hit of the day – a two-run homer – into the home bullpen to run the score to 5-1. The second bases loaded walk issued by Hillsboro came later in the frame to hand the C’s a five-run lead.

Another four-run outburst in the sixth came after the Hops scored an unearned run in the top of that inning. Damiano Palmegiani doubled to start the stanza then Miguel Hiraldo crushed a no-doubter onto the roof of The Nütrl Zone in left field. That homer drew the ire of Hops reliever Gerald Ogando, who proceeded to throw two mid-90s fastballs in the direction of Spain, who came up next. The benches cleared, words were exchanged and both dugouts were issued a warning. After Spain popped out, Andres Sosa clobbered a 1-1 pitch deep into the night in the next at-bat to put Vancouver ahead by eight. Harry Ray came next and tripled before scoring on a wild pitch make it 10-2.

The C’s got two more runs in the seventh thanks to consecutive one-out hit batsmen – the eighth and ninth time a Canadians batter has been plunked in the last three games – two walks (including the third bases-loaded free pass on the night) and a sacrifice fly, bringing the total to 12-2 in favor of the Blue Jays affiliate.

On the mound, Jimmy Robbins got the start and matched a season long with four innings in which h scattered five hits, allowed one run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out a personal-best six hitters. Justin Kelly (W, 3-1) followed with three innings of relief that featured one unearned run with no hits, two walks and two Ks before Mark Simon got the last six outs to keep the game one-sided.

Vancouver’s four triples – the second time this season they’ve logged a quartet of three baggers – gives them a league-best 33 on the season, good enough for the most in High-A. They lead the Northwest League with 259 extra-base hits. Eight of nine starters reached base and seven had a hit, led by Jimenez’s three. Hiraldo and Ray added two apiece.

The Canadians have now won seven consecutive games, their longest winning streak of the season and most since they won eight straight May 12-20, 2021. They are now 2.5 games ahead of the second-place Everett AquaSox (Mariners) in the second half standings.

Vancouver goes for the rare six-game series sweep tomorrow afternoon as part of an A&W Family Fun Sunday. The C’s will make their starter public tomorrow morning while right-hander Scott Randall has been tabbed for the Hops. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. and coverage can be found on CanadiansBaseball.com, MiLB.TV and the Sportsnet Radio Network.