After a tough loss Tuesday night to Salem-Keizer, the Vancouver Canadians were looking to rebound in Game Two of a three-game set.  The C’s sent Shawn Haviland out to the mound, as the Harvard Grad looked to pick up his second win of the short Northwest League season.

The Canadians lineup had David Thomas, Mitch LeVier and Jeremy Barfield from Left to Right in the Outfield, and Rodney Rutherford, Jason Christian, Francisco Tirado and Dusty Napoleon in the Infield.  Julio Rivera caught for Haviland, and Mike Lissman was the DH.

Shawn Haviland didn’t get off to his greatest start, giving up a hit-by-pitch, a single and a RBI double, with two out.  Michael ‘Amunition’ Ambort drilled a single to right field, and Mike ‘Lowly’ Loberg scored on the play to right field, before Jeremy ‘Gun’ Barfield threw Jose Flores out at home, on an incredible throw from shallow right.  2-0 after one.

Mike Loree, Salem’s pitcher, struck out the side in the first, and did much of the same for the rest of the time he was in the game.

The C’s defence remained ‘OK’ after giving up three runs in the 2nd.  With two outs, again, a hit-by-pitch erupted the Volcanoes offence.  Back-to-back singles loaded the bases, with both hits coming to Shawn Haviland, before a Francisco Peguero single drove in two Salem runners.  4-0, and a Shawn Haviland wild pitch scored Vlad ‘Thrill’ Frias, 5-0 Volcanoes.

Ben Hornbeck (left) replaced Haviland in the 3rd, and with two out, gave up a double to John Monell, before a fly out ended the inning.

The Canadians finally got on the board in the 3rd, with a lead-off triple from Rodney Rutherford headlining the inning.  The LF Casey Bond couldn’t find the ball within the C’s bullpen which allowed Rutherford to chug to third base.  Julio Rivera singled him in, before a wild pitch with one out advanced Rivera to 2nd.  A Mitch ‘Two-Beer’ LeVier single advanced Julio to 3rd, and with two outs, Jeremy Barfield singled his catcher teammate home.  5-2 after three innings.

The Canadians offence came alive again in the 5th, after a HBP and single put David Thomas on third and Mitch LeVier on first with none out.  A new pitcher couldn’t do much, with Joseph Edens giving up a sac fly to his first batter, scoring Thomas.  5-3.  A Jeremy Barfield single put runners on first and second, before a Dusty Napoleon walk loaded the bases.

With one out, and bases loaded, Mike Lissman flew into a sacrifice fly.  Mitch LeVier scored but a questionable baserunning move by otherwise game hero Jeremy Barfield, ended the inning as the youngest Barfield was gunned out heading for third.

Ben Hornbeck’s day was done after 3 innings on the hill, giving up two hits, two walks, while striking out four.  His ERA stands at 3.67 as his hot streak on the mound continues.

For the rest of the game, Kenny Smalley pitched two hit-less innings, before newcomer/2007 Canadian ace Brad Hertzler pitched an inning, albeit the winning inning, just hours after arriving from the Kane County Cougars.  He walked three to load the bases, but didn’t give up a run after getting out of the inning.

In the bottom of the 8th, with Vancouver down by two, a new pitcher named Brian Irving came in, to face the C’s heart of the order.

Jeremy Barfield led off the inning with a single, before pinch runner Jareck West advanced to 3rd on a Dusty Napoleon single.  West could’ve gone home on the play, thanks to a bobble by Francisco Peguero, but Rick Magnante held him at third.  With runners on the corner, Mike Lissman popped out before Francisco ‘Tornado’ Tirado doubled to center, scoring West and advancing Dusty to third.  Then, Rodney Rutherford walked to load the bases.

How many times have we seen the C’s leave the inning with bases loaded?  Well today wasn’t one of them, as pinch-hitter Marcos Luis grounded out, but scored Dusty Napoleon.  6-5 Canadians.  David Thomas struck out swinging with two runners in scoring position.

Jose ‘Goozey’ Guzman came into close for the Canadians, and with two outs, and one ball and two strikes to Jose Flores, the King of Floors doubled to left field.  A pinch runner, that would’ve been the tying run was stranded, as Amunition Ambort struck out to end the game.