Ninth Inning Collapse Leads To 6-4 Loss

VANCOUVER, BC – A four-run top of the ninth spoiled a chance for the Canadians to even the final series of the regular season and instead turned a 4-2 lead into a 6-4 loss to the Eugene Emeralds (Giants) Friday afternoon at The Nat.

A lead-off walk started the final frame but the stanza turned sour in the next at-bat. A one hopper to second base should have become a double play – or at least a force out to get the lead runner – but an errant throw to second base sailed into the outfield to put runners at second and third with no outs. An RBI single followed then a flyout had runners at second and third with one away. A walk loaded the bases, and another free pass forced home the tying run. A controversial balk call followed; reliever Connor Cooke (L, 0-2) dropped the ball when, according to the umpire, he was already established on the rubber, thusly forcing home the go-ahead run. A sacrifice fly brought in the fourth Ems score of the inning to make it 6-4 and, despite Vancouver’s efforts in the ninth, they come up short in a loss.

Pk Morris – who started Vancouver’s offense with a go-ahead two-RBI double in the fifth – clubbed a solo homer to begin the eighth to put the C’s on top 3-2. The Canadians added an unearned run later in the inning after a dropped pop up plus throwing error on the same play and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Alex De Jesus.

Eugene broke the scoreless tie in the second inning with three consecutive two out singles against starter Trenton Wallace, but the lefty was otherwise excellent over five innings in which he scattered a total of four hits, walked two and struck out seven.

Morris’ two hits, three RBI and six total bases paced the offense. Gabby Martinez and Garrett Spain were the only other two hitters to reach base more than once.

The series continues Saturday night with the final postgame fireworks extravaganza of the year. #12 Blue Jays prospect Dahian Santos takes the ball for the C’s opposite Eugene’s Mason Black. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with coverage available on CanadiansBaseball.com, MiLB.TV and the Sportsnet Radio Network.