Kloffenstein strikes out 11 in Canadians' loss

Right-hander Adam Kloffenstein struck out 11 batters in five innings in his start for the Vancouver Canadians on Tuesday. Photo: Vancouver Canadians/Twitter

August 10, 2021

Official Vancouver Canadians News Release

EVERETT, WA – Adam Kloffenstein put up a career-best 11 strikeouts but the Vancouver Canadians were battered by the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) in an 11-6 loss Tuesday night at Funko Field.

Kloffenstein (L, 4-6) went five innings and established the mark across 23 batters faced. He was excellent in four of his five frames – including a stretch in which he retired the last 12 of 14 batters he faced – but a four-run second put the ‘Sox in front for good. Everett used a one-out walk to start the rally before five consecutive hits plated four runs to break a scoreless tie.

Vancouver scored single runs in three subsequent innings to draw within one. Will Robertson and Sebastian Espino started the scoring with consecutive two-out doubles in the fourth, Luis De Los Santos brought home Eric Rivera – who had doubled – in the fifth and Tanner Morris delivered an RBI double in the seventh that made it 4-3.

After the stretch, the AquaSox put the game away for good. A six-run bottom of the seventh – highlighted by a Jake Anchia three-run homer off the scoreboard – put them ahead 10-3, though the Canadians did respond in the top of the eighth with three runs on a Rivera sacrifice fly and Zac Cook’s two-run double before Everett plated an insurance run in the bottom of that inning.

Kloffenstein became the second C’s pitcher to punch out 11 batters in a game this year; none have K’d 12 or more. At the plate, eight of nine starters had a hit while Robertson and Espino led the way with two knocks apiece.

Game two Wednesday night will feature Alex Nolan (Burlington, Ont.) for the Canadians and Adam Hill in his AquaSox debut.