Shutout Win Salvages Series In Hillsboro
HILLSBORO, OR – Tormented by close losses in four of five match-ups this week, the Vancouver Canadians entered Sunday’s game at Ron Tonkin Field in danger of losing five games in one series for the first time this year and in need of a spark. Starter Alejandro Melean answered the
HILLSBORO, OR – Tormented by close losses in four of five match-ups this week, the Vancouver Canadians entered Sunday’s game at Ron Tonkin Field in danger of losing five games in one series for the first time this year and in need of a spark. Starter Alejandro Melean answered the call with five one-hit innings, the bullpen turned in a stalwart effort and the offense did just enough to beat the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 2-0 on a stormy-turned-sunny afternoon in Oregon’s Tualatin Valley.
After Melean (W, 2-0) put up three zeroes – including a scoreless second where he worked around a lead-off triple by retiring the next three hitters – the C’s broke through for a run in the top of the fourth. Steward Berroa legged out an infield single for the first hit of the afternoon, went to second on a groundout then stole third to set up a run-scoring ground ball from Trevor Schwecke that made it 1-0 Vancouver.
Melean would go on to work five scoreless stanzas, allowed that one hit, walked one, hit a batter and K’d four. He was followed by Conor Larkin (H, 1) and Alex Nolan (H, 1), who both set down the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. Will McAffer (H, 1) worked the eighth and ran into some trouble to start (he walked the first man then allowed a single to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base) but he proceeded to retire three straight to keep it 1-0.
Schwecke came through again in the ninth, this time with Berroa on base after a lead-off hit by pitch. The speedster reached second after a walk to PK Morris then scored when the Marshfield, WI native laced a single to left for a much-needed insurance run that put the C’s in front 2-0.
Thomas Ruwe (S, 1) closed it out in the ninth by stranding a one-out single to secure the 2-0 win.
A two-hit day for Schwecke – who had gone 0-for-14 to start the series – with two RBI paced the offense. Miguel Hiraldo extended his hitting streak to eight games – the longest active streak on the roster – with a two-out single in the seventh.
The shutout was Vancouver’s sixth of the year. They improve to 20-21 and are three games out of first place with 25 games to go in the first half.
After an off-day on Monday, the Canadians welcome the first-place Spokane Indians (Rockies) to Vancouver on Tuesday for the first of six games at Nat Bailey Stadium this week. #7 Blue Jays prospect Sem Robberse will toe the slab for the C’s while the Indians send right-hander Mike Ruff to the mound. Coverage begins with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. on MiLB.TV, the Sportsnet Radio Network and CanadiansBaseball.com.