Five-run fifth propels Canadians to win
Right-hander C.J. Van Eck started and threw five scoreless innings for the Vancouver Canadians on Tuesday. Photo: Vancouver Canadians/Twitter
August 3, 2021
Official Vancouver Canadians News Release
HILLSBORO, OR – CJ Van Eyk went five scoreless innings and the offence hung a crooked number in the fifth as the Vancouver Canadians took down the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 5-2 Tuesday night at Ron Tonkin Field.
After both teams were held scoreless through four, the C’s broke through in their fifth time at bat against Hops starter Justin Vernia (L, 1-3). Luis De Los Santos started the rally with a walk then went to third on an Eric Rivera one-out single. Up stepped Zac Cook, who executed a perfect safety squeeze to score the run and beat it out for an infield single. Rafael Lantigua brought in Rivera with a rule book double, Tanner Morris plated a run with a sacrifice fly and Orelvis Martinez – MLB.com’s No. 4 Blue Jays prospect making his High-A debut after getting called up from Low-A Dunedin – slugged his first homer as a Canadian and 20th of the year to make it 5-0.
After Van Eyk (W, 3-5) twirled his five scoreless stanzas that featured two hits, two walks and three punch outs, a trio of relievers – Gabriel Ponce, Andrew Bash and Roither Hernandez – were the bridge to Parker Caracci (S, 8) who retired the side in order in the ninth to secure the win and take sole possession of the league lead in saves.
Hillsboro spoiled the shutout with two unearned runs in the eighth on three singles, but that was the only inning the Hops had a runner reach third base.
Lantigua’s two hits and Martinez’s two RBI paced the offence as six of nine C’s starters finished with a hit. The win puts the C’s back in fourth place and improves Vancouver’s record against Hillsboro to 7-6 with 17 games left against the Diamondbacks’ affiliate.
Game two is set for Wednesday night. No. 6 Blue Jays prospect Adam Kloffenstein will go for the Canadians while the Hops have tabbed Marcos Tineo to make his Advanced-A debut.