June 4, 2023 – Northwest League (NWL) – Vancouver Canadians News Release
VANCOUVER, BC – A four-run first set the tone early and Devereaux Harrison logged the fourth quality start by a Canadians pitcher this year to beat the Eugene Emeralds [Giants] in front of the first sellout crowd of the year at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium as part of an A&W Family Fun Sunday.
After Harrison (W, 1-0) set down the side in the top of the first, the C’s took the lead for good in the home half. With two outs and a man at second, Peyton Williams fell behind 0-2 but fought back to work a crucial walk to prolong the frame. Up stepped #21 Blue Jays prospect Alex De Jesus, who lined his league-best fifth triple of the season into the left field gap to plate a pair. Gabby Martinez – the #12 Blue Jays prospect – launched his fourth homer of the year in the next at-bat to make it 4-0 Vancouver.
Alan Roden singled home an unearned run in the second and Michael Turconi’s sacrifice fly in the fourth put the Canadians in front 6-0, all while Harrison continued to keep the Ems at bay. The right-hander went on to work six innings, allowed one run on four hits – though the run and half of those hits didn’t come until the sixth – walked two and K’ed three to earn the second win of his pro career.
The C’s tacked on another run after the stretch thanks to Turconi’s third hit of the day, a two-out RBI single that scored Martinez – who singled two batters earlier – from second base, which helped Vancouver maintain a four-score lead after Grant McCray hit a wind-aided two-run homer in the eighth to make it 7-3.
Naswell Paulino shut the door in the ninth to secure the win and the series split to help the C’s grab sole possession of first place in the Northwest League after Spokane lost to Tri-City.
All nine starters reached base multiple times and eight had a hit. Turconi’s three hits paced the offense while Roden, Martinez and Josh Kasevich finished with two hits apiece.
After an off day on Monday, the Canadians are in Everett to take on the AquaSox [Mariners] Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Coverage from Funko Field will be available on CanadiansBaseball.com and the Sportsnet Radio Network.
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