Offense Backs Santos Early, C's Win 11-1

VANCOUVER, BC – Picture-perfect weather and an 11-run, 15-hit attack delighted the largest crowd so far this season as the Canadians dispatched the Eugene Emeralds 11-1 on a memorable day at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium.

With former Canadian and 16-year big league veteran Tom Candiotti in the house as part of the first installment of the Toyota Superstar Series, the C’s led wire-to-wire and baffled the high-octane Emeralds offense – who entered play today with the fourth-most runs scored in all of High-A – for the duration.

The C’s wasted no time getting on the board after a lead-off infield single and throwing error put Dasan Brown at second base for Gabby Martinez, who singled him home to make it 1-0.

Vancouver put the game away with an 11-batter second inning that featured seven runs on five hits. It began with a Michael Turconi double before consecutive walks loaded the bases for Martinez, who drove in his second run of the day with a sacrifice fly. After another walk re-loaded the bases, Cade Doughty beat out what was almost an inning-ending double play for a run-scoring fielder’s choice that put the Canadians ahead 3-0.

Without Doughty’s hustle down the line, it would have been an entirely different game. Alex De Jesus followed with the first of four consecutive two-out hits, a two-run double that bounced off the third base bag and over the third baseman’s head. Devonte Brown plated a run with a base hit and Josh Kasevich singled to bring Turconi back to the plate. He became the first C’s hitter to get two hits in one inning this year when he tripled home a pair to complete the seven-run stanza and put Vancouver in front 8-0.

MLB.com’s #11 Blue Jays prospect Dahian Santos (W, 1-1) made his third start of the year and dazzled over a season-long five innings. He retired the first eight hitters of the afternoon before surrendering a two-out single in the third, set down the side in order in the fourth and gave up a solo homer and a walk in the fifth without any further damage. His final line: two hits, one run, one walk and a season-high seven strikeouts.

Doughty – Toronto’s #8 prospect – added icing to the cake when he homered into the wind in the seventh after Dasan Brown and Rainer Nunez singled to set the table for the Denham Springs, LA native’s third homer of the year. The former LSU Tiger’s blast made it 11-1, and the relief trio of Cooper Benson, Juan Nunez and Connor Cooke took care of the rest to secure the win.

All nine starters reached base, eight had a hit and five collected multiple knocks. Devonte Brown and Dasan Brown paced the offense with three hits apiece (the latter reached base four times) and Kasevich reached thrice.

With the win, the C’s are back to .500 (8-8) and have secured a series split with the first-place Emeralds. Vancouver will go for the series win tomorrow afternoon as part of an A&W Family Fun Sunday and Mascot Blanket Giveaway; gates open at noon and first pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. Right-handers Hunter Gregory and Nick Sinacola will battle it out on CanadiansBaseball.com, Bally Live, MiLB TV and the Sportsnet Radio Network.