King of Spain: Garrett's Bunt Completes Comeback

VANCOUVER, BC – A two-out bunt single in the bottom of the eighth spurred the Canadians to a 6-5 win over the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) on a sun-splashed Friday afternoon as part of a Fortis BC ‘Nooner at The Nat.

With the score tied at five after seven and a half innings, Riley Tirotta sparked the go-ahead rally with a lead-off single then stole second and third with one out. After a ground out to the drawn-in infield kept Tirotta 90 feet away, Garrett Spain – already the author of two RBI singles earlier in the game – stepped to the plate. The Clarksville, TN native placed a perfect bunt up the third base line to plate Tirotta and make it 6-5 to give Vancouver their first lead of the game.

Jol Concepcion (S, 6) came on for the ninth and struck out his first batter before issuing a walk on a 3-2 pitch to put the tying run at first. After inducing a pop fly from Northwest League home run leader Dariel Gomez for the second out, it appeared Concepcion struck out pinch-hitter Mike Salvatore when he swung and missed on a 1-2 pitch. As the C’s spilled onto the field to celebrate a victory, home plate umpire Zee Zidek and base umpire Matt Blackborow – both of whom were at the center of multiple controversial calls over the course of the afternoon and ejected two Canadians coaches – waved them off the field after ruling Concepcion had not completely come set before his delivery. The right-hander would fill the count on Salvatore before K’ing him swinging to end the game for real with Vancouver on top 6-5.

Everett started the scoring with two runs in the first against #7 Blue Jays prospect Sem Robberse, but the C’s offense – held to one hit in last night’s ten inning loss – bounced back for two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second. PK Morris started the hit parade with a one-out double then Spain singled him home to spoil the shutout. With Spain on second after advancing on the throw home, Andres Sosa hit a tailing line drive into the right field corner to tie the game at two runs apiece.

The ‘Sox chased Robberse from the game with three runs in the top of the fourth to lead 5-2, thought that would be the last time they would score. Naswell Paulino and Juan Nunez (W, 4-0) combined on 4.1 inning of scoreless relief that featured two hits, two walks and seven strikeouts to give the C’s sticks a chance to mount their comeback.

In the sixth, Damiano Palmegiani led off with a single before a ground out moved him to second. PK Morris struck out swinging but reached base on a wild pitch to put men at the corners with one out then Glenn Santiago brougth home Palmegiani with a ground out to pull the C’s within two. Spain singled to center in the next at-bat to make it 5-4.

The first two batters of the seventh reached before #6 Blue Jays prospect Leo Jimenez lofted a fly ball deep to left field that could have been caught but instead clanged off the glove of left field Myles Miller, who leaped near the wall in an attempt to haul it in. When the ball hit the dirt of the warning track the lead runner raced home to tie the game 5-5 on what was ruled an RBI single.

After three games in which the Vancouver offense couldn’t muster much of anything, the C’s scored their six runs on 12 hits and got contributions from eight of nine starters. Spain’s three hits matched a personal best this year and his three RBI were a career high.

With the win, the C’s will wake up tomorrow in sole possession of first place and are rooting for the Hillsboro Hops to take down the second-place Eugene Emeralds, who began the day a half game back of Vancouver.

The Canadians will aim to make it two in a row tomorrow night. Lefty Trenton Wallace goes for Vancouver opposite Everett’s Juan Mercedes. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with coverage available on CanadiansBaseball.com, MiLB.TV and Sportsnet 650.