Strong Salem-Keizer pitching, mixed with Vancouver having a so-so middle innings, saw the Volcanoes win the finale of a three-game set with the C’s.  Ronny Morla hurled for the C’s, while the defence had Mitch LeVier, Jareck West, Jeremy Barfield, Rodney Rutherford, Jason Christian, Francisco Tirado and Dusty Napoleon.  Julio Rivera completed the battery with Morla.  Mike Lissman was the DH.

The second inning saw Morla give up a run, in John Monell, after a bases loaded walk to Caleb Curry.  He did get ‘Vlad’ Frias to line out, however, to end the threat.

The bottom half of said-inning had Vancouver on the scoreboard, thanks to a Jason Christian single to start the hit parade in the inning, before Rodney Rutherford brought him in with a single.

Ronny Morla lasted 5 innings, giving up three hits, a pair of earned runs, 5 walks and striking out three.

He was replaced by Fabian Gomez in the 6th, after Morla had pitched to a pair of batters in the inning before Manager Rick Magnante took him out.  Gomez, who had to come in with runners on the corners, and none out, picked up two quick outs, but on the last one, a sac bunt, John Monell scored.  A ground out did, however, end the inning.

Jeremy Barfield looked like he wanted to do something about the C’s trailing, and he did.  A lead-off double off of Eric Stolp.  Only problem was, the C’s couldn’t bring him home.  3-1 after 6.

The 7th saw the Volcanoes break out.  With one out, they scored a run after a triple, before a double scored the second run of the inning.  A single put runners on the corner, and also ended Gomez’ day on the mound.  I must say, Fabian wasn’t getting some calls he should’ve, and that was why the Volcanoes were hitting.

Edgar Tejeda came in, and gave up a double scoring two runs, before picking up two outs.  7-1 visitors.

The top of the 9th described the Canadians game, with Francisco Peguero hitting a lead-off dinger over the left field fence.  

Bottom of the 9th, new pitcher, with Jason Christian batting.  What does he do?  Crank a pitch to center field, good enough for a double.  Lissman now up, strike out.  Rutherford steps in, passed ball advances Christian.  Then, catcher Eliezer Zambrano got hit by Rutherford’s bat, or the ball he hit, and he was on the ground.  He would be OK.

Rutherford struck out, as did Julio Rivera and the game ended, final score of 8-1 for the bad guys.

C’s are now hoping Eugene loses tonight to Tri-City, so they can remain 8 games back.

There was a new player for the C’s, not in uniform, but at the park none-the-less.  More on him, when the C’s put something in print.  

With three weeks left in the NWL regular season, Vancouver isn’t totally out of it, but it would take some timely hitting and pitching to keep them in the playoff race.  Stranger things have happened.  And as for the team on the field, their bats are finally starting to get hot, in the last 10 or so games, and the starting pitching has been amazing.  With 5 games against Boise, three versus Salem-Keizer, six against Eugene and half-a-dozen against Everett as well, Vancouver has a shot.  And as we found out with Rick Magnante’s South African team back in the World Baseball Classic against Canada, it ain’t over ’til it’s over.