You know what, this team is really making me excited.  In the midst of a 7-2 breakout week and a bit, the Canadians are finally beginning to look like a team that can contend.  Jeremy Barfield absolutely killed two foul balls today, one leaving the ballpark, just going a bit foul, the other was a high foul that went into the Nat Bailey parking lot.  

Mike Hart pitched excellent in relief, as did Kenny Smalley. Fabian Gomez was excellent on the hill.  Dusty Napoleon was superb at the dish, as was Mike Lissman who is becoming a fan favourite in Vancouver, after crushing his third home-run of the short NWL season.  Francisco Tirado turned on the jets and sped home make it a 4-2 game early on, coming within about 10 feet of his teammate ahead of him at home plate.

And the best part?  The fans were into it.  I’m beginning to have a whole lot of faith and excitement when I get to the ballpark, something I haven’t had in the last few years when the team was struggling.  This is the best part of the year for a team to start winning, and now, Vancouver is only 1.5 games back of Salem-Keizer for first place.  A 5-game rendez-vous against Tri-City starting tomorrow could be the difference between first place at the end of July, and having to wait to get first place after a 8-game roadtrip through Washington State.

Trailing 2-0 after the first inning, Yakima managed two runs in the 5th before Vancouver answered back with two more in the later half of the inning.  Both runs came in on a Dusty Napoleon double, scoring Jareck West and Francisco Tirado.  West was on 2nd base, and Tirado on first, but at home plate, Tirado came within just feet of West, making it look like the runners came from the same base.  Tirado really has jets when he uses them correctly.  Big thumbs up to that.

The 8th inning is where Vancouver took command, and never looked back.  Dante Love walked, before an error put Rodney Rutherford on base.  Jareck West had a sac bunt with a full count, advancing the runners, before David Thomas flew out.  Francisco Tirado singled, and scored both Dante Love and Rodney Rutherford.  Dusty Napoleon singled, scoring Tirado (who had advanced to 2nd on an error) before the inning was capped off with a two-run blast by Mike Lissman scoring two runs. 

A new pitcher in Daniel Vasquez walked Jason Christian, before Jeremy Barfield hit a bomb to left field, just going to the left of the foul pole.  He struck out to end the inning, but man it got the crowd going.  I haven’t seen Barfield’s power until today.  And props to him.

The 9th saw Jose Guzman come in for the save, and with one out, he gave up a double to Alfredo Marte, who has been on base more than a few times this series.  Andrew Fie advanced him to third, but a low strike pitched by Guzman to Ramon Castillo ended the game.  7-4 the final score.

But there were two things that really stood out to me in this game.

Dudes wanted it bad. 

The other, the fans want it bad.

This season may end up being one of the best finishes in C’s history, if both parties do their parts.  The players doing what they’re doing now, and the fans cheering like they are. 

Jeremy