Late Heroics Lead To Doubleheader Sweep

VANCOUVER, BC – A walk-off RBI double from Andres Sosa in the bottom of the tenth and a game-winning three-run homer from Jommer Hernandez in the last of the sixth were the knockout blows landed by the Canadians in a doubleheader sweep over the Tri-City Dust Devils (Angels) Thursday night at The Nat.

After Wednesday’s game was suspended due to rain, the C’s and Dust Devils picked up the action in the bottom of the third with the score tied at 0-0. It stayed that way until Jose Reyes clubbed a go-ahead two-run jack in the top of the fifth. Vancouver would rally in the sixth after two walks set the table for a run-scoring single from Garrett Spain and an RBI double off the bat of Glenn Santiago to even the score at 2-2.

Tri-City retook the lead with an unearned run in the seventh, but Vancouver responded with an unearned run of their own in the home half of the eighth. A throwing error allowed the lead-off batter to reach second, Santiago singled to put men on the corners and Dasan Brown brought home the tying tally with an RBI groundout.

Both teams failed to score in the ninth and Matt Svanson (1-0) stranded the placed runner at second base in the top of the tenth and Sosa delivered the game-winning hit on the first pitch of the bottom of the tenth to help Vancouver complete their comeback with a 4-3 triumph.

It was the Dust Devils who drew first blood in game two as well after a bloop two-out double to shallow right field that should have been caught to end the top of the fourth instead set up a three-run rally for the Angels affiliate that saw them lead 3-0.

The Canadians responded in the bottom of that inning to cut the lead to two. Riley Tirotta led off with a double then scored when Hernandez singled him home to spoil the shutout and make it 3-1.

After Chad Dallas completed five innings – and put up a zero in four of them – Justin Kelly (W, 6-2) worked around a lead-off single and a plunking to hold the Dust Devils scoreless. That set up the bottom of the sixth, which began with consecutive singles from Tirotta and Miguel Hiraldo to bring Hernandez to the plate as the potential go-ahead run. The Puerto Plata, DR native – who hit his first professional homer in Spokane on July 24 to win the game in the top of the ninth – clubbed an 0-1 pitch from Robinson Pina (L, 6-6) into the home bullpen in left field to put the C’s in front 4-3.

Newcomer Connor Cooke (S, 1) made his High-A debut with a perfect ninth to secure the win and the doubleheader sweep.

Hernandez finished with three hits, two runs scored and three RBI between both games. Brown and Santiago also had three hits over the course of 16 and a half innings. The offense went 6-for-28 with runners in scoring position on the day.

With both wins, the Canadians are a half game back of the Eugene Emeralds for first place in the second half standings and, if the season ended today, would make the playoffs as the team with the second-best overall record (50-45, .526) in the Northwest League.

Vancouver will look for a guaranteed series split with a win tomorrow as part of a Fortis BC ‘Nooner at The Nat. #7 Blue Jays prospect Sem Robberse gets the start opposite Tri-City southpaw Nick Mondak. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. and coverage is available on CanadiansBaseball.com, MiLB.TV and Sportsnet 650.