Wallace Wows, Offense Finds A Way In 5-3 Win
VANCOUVER, BC – Trenton Wallace’s 11 strikeouts in five and two-thirds plus just enough offensive production at a few key moments helped the Canadians secure a series split with the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) with a 5-3 win in front of a sellout crowd as part of a Fortis BC ‘Nooner
VANCOUVER, BC – Trenton Wallace’s 11 strikeouts in five and two-thirds plus just enough offensive production at a few key moments helped the Canadians secure a series split with the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) with a 5-3 win in front of a sellout crowd as part of a Fortis BC ‘Nooner at The Nat.
The C’s started the scoring with two runs in the top of the second when they used consecutive hits from Gabby Martinez and Miguel Hiraldo to put runners at second and third with no outs. After a strikeout and a walk that loaded the bases, Glenn Santiago lined an RBI single to make it 1-0 before a bases loaded walk to Andres Sosa doubled the Vancouver advantage.
Hiraldo added to the Canadians lead with a two-out solo homer in the third, his eighth of the year.
Wallace was fantastic over five scoreless innings in which he scattered two hits, two hit by pitches and 10 strikeouts before retiring the first two hitters of the sixth, including his 11th strikeout to match a single-game season high by a C’s pitcher. But he plunked his third batter of the game with his 81st and final pitch, which brought on reliever Sam Ryan (W, 1-0) to face #12 Diamondbacks prospect AJ Vukovich. A 1-2 pitch turned into a two-run homer that cut the C’s lead to one then a fly ball to left field that should have ended the inning instead became an error after two defenders collided. Hillsboro took advantage by tying the game with an unearned run in the next at-bat when Channy Ortiz doubled down the left field line.
With the score even at three, the Canadians went right to work in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead. Consecutive walks started the inning then a groundout moved both runners into scoring position. Jommer Hernandez drove in what proved to be the decisive run with a single past the drawn in infield and Santiago followed that up with an RBI double off the centerfield wall to make it 5-3.
From there, Ryan, Matt Svanson (H, 1) and Connor Cooke (S, 5) got the next nine outs to secure the win.
Six of nine starters reached base. Hiraldo and Santiago had two hits apiece to pace the offense.
With the win, the C’s have guaranteed that they will wake up tomorrow in a playoff position and are hoping for losses from Eugene (Giants) and Spokane (Rockies) tonight to help gain ground in the second half standings and give them some protection as the team with the second-best overall record, respectively.
Vancouver can earn a series win tomorrow night. #12 Blue Jays prospect Dahian Santos makes his Nat Bailey Stadium debut opposite Hillsboro’s Avery Short. Coverage begins just after the top of the hour and continues with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. on CanadiansBaseball.com, MiLB.TV and the Sportsnet Radio Network.