PASCO, WA – Silvano Hechavarria’s six innings of one-run ball weren’t enough for the Canadians in a 6-3 loss to the Tri-City Dust Devils (LAA) Saturday night at Gesa Stadium.
Staked to a two-run lead before throwing a pitch thanks to a Ryan Sprock two-run homer in the top of the first, Hechavarria worked around a one-out double in the opening frame and a two-out single in the second before the Dust Devils got to him for a run on two hits in the third.
That would be the only run he would allow. The Cuban right-hander finished the next three and a third innings by facing one batter over the minimum and keeping the C’s in front 2-1.
Tri-City cracked the bullpen for go-ahead rallies in the seventh and eighth. They plated two in the former frame to lead 3-2 before David Calabrese bunted for a hit in the next half inning and scored on a Sprock game-tying double then retook the lead with a three-spot in the eighth to go on to win 6-3.
With the loss, the Canadians – who have already punched their ticket to the NWLCS next week – have fallen a half game back of Eugene and into second place. If they want to win the second half outright before meeting the Emeralds in game one of the playoffs at The Nat on Tuesday, they will need a victory plus an Ems defeat as Connor O’Halloran takes the ball in the regular season finale tomorrow opposite Jose Atencio. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. on the C’s Baseball Network.
Playoff tickets are on sale at CanadiansBaseball.com or by calling 604-872-5232. Follow the C’s on social via @vancanadians.