Canadians down Hops 6-4 in series finale

Eric Rivera had two hits, two RBIs and three stolen bases for the Vancouver Canadians on Sunday. Photo: Vancouver Canadians/Twitter

July 18, 2021

Official Vancouver Canadians News Release

Hillsboro, OR – The Vancouver Canadians used a three-run fourth inning and timely hits from the bottom half of the order to beat the Hillsboro Hops 6-4 on Sunday afternoon at Ron Tonkin Field.

Three runs in the fourth put the C’s in front for good. With two outs and the game tied 1-1, Ryan Gold worked a walk before Phil Clarke was issued a free pass after a nine-pitch plate appearance. That set up Rafael Lantigua, who doubled home Gold to break the tie and make it 2-1. Consecutive RBI singles from DJ Neal and Eric Rivera put Vancouver up 4-1.

Hillsboro got one back in the bottom of the inning, but the Canadians added a run in the sixth on a Rivera RBI single and another in the seventh thanks to a run-scoring base hit from Clarke to lead 6-3 at the stretch.

A pivotal bottom of the eighth inning kept Vancouver in front. With the bases loaded, two outs and a run already in that had the C’s up 6-4, Roither Hernandez’s 2-2 pitch to Andy Yerzy (North York, Ont.) was called for strike three and resulted in an ejection of Hops manager Vince Harrison after the pitch looked high and could have been called for a ball but instead ended the threat as Hillsboro left the bases loaded with the tying run on second.

Parker Caracci (S, 7) set down the side in order in the ninth to secure his league-best seventh save of the year.

Rivera sparked the offence from the ninth spot in the order by reaching base in all four of his plate appearances (two singles, two walks), drove in two, scored a run and matched a C’s single-game high with three stolen bases. Spencer Horwitz doubled twice to be the only other Canadians hitter with more than one hit, but all nine starters reached base at least one time. The bottom four hitters in the order – Clarke, Lantigua, Neal and Rivera – finished the day 5-for-8 with five RBI, four walks and four runs scored.

On the mound, Adrian Hernandez (W, 3-1) set down six of the seven batters he faced and Connor Law turned in a perfect inning of relief as part of a quintet of C’s arms to appear in the game.

With the win, Vancouver ends a four-game losing streak and is now 9-2 on Sundays this season.

After an off day on Monday, Paxton Schultz gets the call for the Canadians as they open a six-game series with the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) on Tuesday night at Ron Tonkin Field. Everett has yet to name their starter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.