piekarz-joe.jpgVancouver bats were all but silent over six innings of tonight’s game
against NWL West strugglers the Eugene Emeralds, notcing only two hits
over the first 2/3 of the game. Eugene, on the other hand, managed to
score an early run off starting pitcher Joe Piekarz (left), which put abundant
pressure on the C’s as, down south, division co-leading Salem-Kaizer
Volcanoes put the sword to the Everett Aquasox.

The C’s can’t afford to drop a game right now, with only the division
winner going through to the playoffs, so it was little surprise when
the Canadians bats finally woke from their slumber in the bottom of the
7th.

With a single from Justin Sellers to lead-off the innings, Jeff
Baisley got to base after being tagged by a pitch, and as Haas Pratt
sac’ed them along, the C’s loaded the bases when Jose Garcia singled
through the 3rd baseman’s glove, with the ball not moving far enough
off base to get anyone home.

With Steve Kleen at the plate and one-out down, Kleen quickly fell
behind 0-2 in the count, giving a case of the nerves to all present.

But Kleen wasn’t rattled, watching a pitch inside, and then jumping on
a fastball, dispatching it into left field to score Sellers and Baisley
to give the C’s a 2-0 lead.

From then on, it was all Stephen Bryant, pitching two scoreless innings
of relief, before Brad Kilby allowed to Emeralds on base before
striking out the final two hitters of the night to get the save.

A game we really didn’t deserve to win, but what the hell - we’ll take it!

September 2, 2005
Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Eugene 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0
Vancouver 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 X 2 6 1
wrap | box | log
W: S. Bryant (3-2, 2.93); L: D. Baca (0-1, 10.80); SV: B. Kilby (13)
HR: None.

GAME NOTES:
* Joe Piekarz: 6 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 earned run, no walks and 6
strikeouts - way to prove you’re worth another season in the minors,
Pikey! stephen Bryant pitched 2 innings giving up no hits and striking
out 3, while Kilby was run-free in the last.

* With the bat… ugh. Other than the resurgent Steve Kleen, who went
2-3 with a double and 2 RBIs, everyone else managed either 1 hit or no
hits at all. And NOBODY managed to draw a walk all game long. Not one.

* Everett scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th against Salem-Kaizer
tonight to level scores at 3-3 and take their game to extra innings,
but the Volc’s are on a tear and won 4-3 in the bottom of the 10th.

Where is Wes Long? We need you, Long Gone!