Espino belts three home runs to lead Canadians to win

Sebastian Espino belted three home runs for the Vancouver Canadians on Sunday. Photo: Vancouver Canadians/Twitter

August 15, 2021

Official Vancouver Canadians News Release

EVERETT, WA – Sebastian Espino’s career day powered the Vancouver Canadians to an 11-3 triumph over the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) Sunday evening at Funko Field to help the C’s win their first series over the ‘Sox in 2021.

Espino – who was acquired off waivers from the Mets in December – first went deep in the fourth. His two-run shot erased a 1-0 deficit to put Vancouver ahead for good. He followed that up with a solo shot in the seventh before leading off the ninth with another blast that made it 9-3. Zac Cook and Rafael Lantigua added back-to-back jacks later in the inning – the first time the Canadians have hit consecutive homers this season – to extend the lead to 11-3.

Vancouver scored in every inning from the fourth through the ninth. A two-run fifth featured a run-scoring wild pitch and a Spencer Horwitz RBI ground out, Tanner Morris tripled home a run in the sixth and MLB.com’s No. 4 Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez launched his fourth home run of the year in the eighth, a two-run shot that had the C’s in front by six.

Adam Kloffenstein (W, 5-6) turned in one of his finest outings of the year. The 20-year-old went five innings, allowed one run (a solo homer) on three hits, walked three and struck out four. He improved his August ERA to 4.02, his lowest of any month this year.

Hagen Danner and Roither Hernandez combined on three scoreless innings of relief to close out the game.

Espino’s power surge was the highlight, but Lantigua became just the third C’s hitter to record four hits – three singles and a home run – this year. Martinez had three hits – the first time he’s notched multiple knocks in High-A this year – while Cook and Phil Clarke finished with two hits apiece.

With the win, Vancouver takes their first series since early June when they won four of six against Spokane. The offence logged double digit knocks in all six games of the series, the first time they’ve done that this season.

The Canadians are off on Monday before returning “home” to take on the Tri-City Dust Devils (Angels) on Tuesday night at Ron Tonkin Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.