Vancouver jumps out to five-run lead but can't avoid Hillsboro power surge; fall 7-5
September 7, 2014 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Vancouver Canadians News Release
(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - After jumping out to an early five-run lead, the Vancouver Canadians watched Hillsboro storm back with seven unanswered runs to take Game One of the Northwest League Championship, presented by Scotiabank, on Saturday night.
Vancouver would score a trio of runs in the bottom of the 1st inning on four hits including a leadoff double from CF Roemon Fields. The fleury of offense would chase Hops starter RHP Ben Eckels from the game after just the one inning of work.
The Canadians would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning off of reliever LHP Jared Miller on a two-run single off the bat of 1B Ryan McBroom. Those would be the last runs scored off the Hops on the night.
Hillsboro would rally with a four-run top of the 4th inning that included a two-run home run off the bat of RF Stewart IJames that made it a one-run game. Canadians RHP Chase Mallard would go five innings allowing six hits and the four earned runs.
Canadians manager John Schneider went into his bullpen and grabbed RHP Alberto Tirado who proceed to give up a pair of runs in the only inning he worked as C Stryker Trahan hit a towering two-run home run to give the Hops their first lead of the night, up 6-5.
Hillsboro would add a run in the 7th inning on a C Mike Reeves throwing error to extend the lead to 7-5.
Vancouver would not record a hit from the bottom of the 3rd inning until the bottom of the 8th inning as the combination of LHP Jared Miller (5.0IP) and RHP Rob Wort (2.0IP) overwhelmed the Canadians offense.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Hillsboro closer LHP Zak Curtis came into shut the door on Game One but ran into trouble as he walked 3B Alexis Maldonado and allowed a hard hit single to left field off of DH Tim Locastro that brought the winning, walk off run to the plate, but SS Franklin Barreto would strike out and 1B Ryan McBroom would ground out to give the Hops a one-game-to-none NWL Championship Series lead heading back to Hillsboro for Game two set for Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 5:05pm.
Vancouver must win on Sunday to extend the best-of-three series to a final game on Monday, September 8th at 7:05pm. The Canadians will send LHP Matt Smoral to the mound against RHP Felipe Perez.
The Vancouver Canadians wish to thank all fans over the course of the 2014 season for another fantastic year of support out at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium and hope to bring a fourth consecutive NWL title back from Hillsboro.
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Northwest League Stories from September 7, 2014
- Hillsboro Tops Vancouver 4-3 to Claim NWL Championship - Vancouver Canadians
- Former Boise Hawks Lopez, Jokisch Make MLB Debuts for Cubs - Boise Hawks
- Vancouver Canadians at Hillsboro Hops Game Notes - Hillsboro Hops
- Hops Come Back to Stun Vancouver, Win Game 1 - Hillsboro Hops
- Vancouver jumps out to five-run lead but can't avoid Hillsboro power surge; fall 7-5 - Vancouver Canadians
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