July 8-10 Weekend Vancouver Canadians Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
I’m back from my sojourn to the Ottawa area for a couple of performances at a Medieval Festival where Wi-Fi wasn’t part of the package. It’s time to catch up on the weekend’s action in the Blue Jays’ minor leagues. The Vancouver Canadians played four games this weekend, making up a rained out game on Friday as part of a double header against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (splitting the twin bill) and then won their two games against the Tri-City Dust Devils for a 3-1 weekend. The Canadians are 13-11 overall, in a three-way tie for first place in the North Division of the Northwest League.

Friday
Vancouver Canadians 6, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 8
The baseballs were flying out of Volcanoes stadium as there were five round-trippers in the game. The Canadians’ pitching staff gave up three of them with Luis Sanchez (4 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 K), Evan Smith (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K), and Jackson Lowery (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R) each surrendering a home run.

The Canadians hit two of their own with Bryan Lizardo hitting his first of the year and Javier Hernandez also hitting his first. Hernandez was 2/2 with a walk, the home run and two runs.

Player of the Game: Javier Hernandez

 
Vancouver Canadians 9, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 3
In the second game, the Canadians only hit one home run but scored nine times to defeat the Volcanoes 9-3. Mike Ellenbest provided three scoreless, hitless innings of work, striking out two before handing the game off to the bullpen. Andy Ravel got the win despite giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in 2 2/3 inninggs, striking out two. Jackson McClelland only went 1/3 of an inning, finishing off the sixth inning while Nick Hartman allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the seventh inning.

Another catcher, Andres Sotillo, hit his first home run of the year for the Canadians, going 1/3 with two RBI. Rodrigo Orozco was 2/4 with a double and two runs while Cavan Biggio scored twice, going 1/3 with a walk. J.B. Woodman was 1/3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base.

Player of the Game: Andres Sotillo, Rodrigo Orozco and Mike Ellenbest

Saturday
Vancouver Canadians 8, Tri-City Dust Devils 3
Despite an injury concern after being lifted early in his last start, Justin Maese went on to prove he’s healthy with eight innings of three-hit, two run ball against the Tri-City Dust Devils, striking out five in an 8-3 win on Saturday. Needing just 83 pitching to get through eight, Maese allowed just one hit through seven, then giving up a single and home run with one out in the eight inning. In the ninth, Stuart Holmes allowed a run on one hit and one walk.

The Vancouver offense started to churn, getting 10 hits (including one from every hitter but two) with Bryan Lizardo hitting a grand slam in the first inning to get things rolling. Javier Hernandez was 2/3 with a double and a walk while Rodrigo Orozco was 2/3 with an RBI. J.B. Woodman was 2/5 with a double and two RBI.

Player of the Game: Justin Maese and Javier Hernandez

Sunday
Vancouver Canadians 6, Tri-City Dust Devils 2
The Canadians followed up their Saturday defeat of the Dust Devils with another convincing win on Sunday, beating them 6-2. Cavan Biggio had a three-hit game, going 3/5 with a double and two runs. Bryan Lizardo drove in another two runs, going 2/4 while J.B. Woodman was 1/2 with a walk, a double and a sac fly and Christian Williams was 1/3 with a walk.

Dalton Rodriguez earned the win, going five innings with just a run against despite allowing three hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Griffin Glaude followed, giving up an unearned run on a hit with two strikeouts while the Jacksons (Jackson McClelland and Jackson Lowery) threw a scoreless inning each.

Player of the Game: Cavan Biggio

Roster Notes
None

 
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