C's Snatch Win Late for Third Time in Series
August 26, 2022 - Northwest League (NWL)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
VANCOUVER, B.C. --- The Vancouver Canadians have certainly relished the opportunity to take on the Hillsboro Hops on their own turf this season.
After sharing Ron Tonkin Field with the Hops last year during pandemic-related border restrictions, the old Nat Bailey Stadium magic has returned with a vengeance in 2022. After nearly spoiling a dominant pitching performance by Trenton Wallace by blowing a 3-0 lead, the C's took advantage of a pair of walks to plate the go-ahead runs in the sixth to defeat the Hops 5-3 Friday afternoon in front of another jubilant sell-out crowd.
With Friday's win, the Canadians (31-20 2nd half, 61-53 overall) improved to 34-23 at The Nat this year, a home record bettered only by league-leading Eugene (40-17 at P.K. Park). Vancouver is 9-1 at home against Hillsboro (22-30, 51-65) this season. The victory moved Vancouver temporarily to within a game of the Emeralds in the Northwest League second-half standings and put them a game up on the third-place Spokane Indians in the overall standings with a critical series at Avista Stadium looming next week.
The lefty Wallace, who was Big Ten Pitcher Of The Year at Iowa last year, fanned 11 Hops batters without a walk, surrendering just two hits and no runs over 5 2/3 innings. He plunked Caleb Roberts with his final pitch, putting the Hops' cleanup hitter aboard with two outs in the sixth. Sam Ryan (1-0) came out of the pen and promptly served up a home run ball to A.J. Vukovich, who left the yard for the second game in a row, pulling the Hops to within 3-2.
Neyfy Castillo followed with a fly ball to shallow left that dropped when left fielder P.K. Morris and shortstop Glenn Santiago collided, sending Castillo to second. Channy Ortiz made the C's pay for the blunder when his blooper down the left field line bounced off the chalk line and into the stands for an RBI ground rule double to tie the game.
In the bottom of the inning, Hillsboro reliever Collin Sullivan (0-1), making his first appearance for the Hops since going on the injured list in May, walked the first two batters. After a ground ball out to advance the runners, Jommer Hernandez smashed a hard grounder past the drawn-in Hops infield to plate Gabby Martinez, putting the C's back on top. Glenn Santiago followed with a smash off the center field fence to send Miguel Hiraldo home with what turned out to be an insurance run.
Hillsboro threatened in the eighth, when singles by Vukovich and Deyvison De Los Santos put two runners on with one out, but Castillo grounded into an inning-ending double play. Connor Cooke came on to retire the side in the ninth with a strikeout to card his sixth save in seven opportunities and second of the series.
Vukovich finished with three hits for his second straight multi-hit, home run game following a 3-for-28 slump. Hiraldo led the way for the Canadians, going 2-for-3 with a double, solo homer and three runs scored.
The series continues Saturday night at 7:05 and wraps up with another day game at 1:05 p.m. Sunday. Both games can be heard live on Rip City Radio 620 AM with pregame coverage beginning 15 minutes prior.
Northwest League Stories from August 26, 2022
- Frogs Have Fun on Funko Friday - Everett AquaSox
- Dust Devils and Emeralds Participate in Baseball Contest - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Frogs Have Fun on Funko Friday - Everett AquaSox
- Emeralds' Bats Blow Up In The Fifth Against Tri-City - Eugene Emeralds
- Wallace Wows, Offense Finds a Way in 5-3 Win - Vancouver Canadians
- C's Snatch Win Late for Third Time in Series - Hillsboro Hops
- PK Park to Host Northwest League Playoff Games - Eugene Emeralds
- Tri-City Takes Advantage of Eugene Errors to Grab Win - Tri-City Dust Devils
- AquaSox Pound out 17 Hits in Loss - Everett AquaSox
- Palmegiani Salami with Five Ribs, C's Win Squeaker - Hillsboro Hops
- Emeralds Unable to Hang Onto Lead against Tri-City - Eugene Emeralds
- Battle of Bats Ends with C's on Top - Vancouver Canadians
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