After losing three of the first four games in their opening road series at Tri-City, the Vancouver Canadians turned to one of the best pitchers on the roster to get them back on the winning track, in advance of their series against the Salem Keizer Volcanoes, that I’m predicting will be the biggest series of the season, despite being just 8 games in.

Brad McAtee opposed Hector, and the big RHP is in his second year in the NWL.

C’s lineup:

Jose ‘El Rey’ Crisostomo, 2B Nino ‘Lay Out’ Leyja (right), DH Kent ‘Walloping’ Walton, LF Rashun ‘Bullet’ Dixon, C Ryan Ortiz, 1B Anthony ‘Alliteration’ Aliotti, 3B Wilfredo ‘Sammy’ Sosa, SS Michael ‘Smooth’ Gilmartin, CF Tyreace ‘The Dream’ House, SP Hector ‘Fireball’ Garcia.

Having been down 7-0 the night before, Vancouver knew it was essential to get off to a fast start, like always, but this time they did a fantastic job, working the counts, and getting on base.

El Rey opened things with a walk, before Lay Out Leyja’s sac bunt advanced him with one gone.  Back-to-back walks loaded the bases, and a wild pitch advanced all runners a base, including a run for Crisostomo.

Ryan Ortiz struck out, and fellow newcomer Anthony Aliotti grounded out, but Vancouver was still on top 1-0.

Garcia faced some trouble in the first as well, with runners at first and second with one gone, and then a Mike Zuanich single all-but scored a run, but Tim Wheeler, the highly regarded Rockies prospect, was gunned out at home by Rashun Dixon.  Yes Bullet threw out a runner for the third straight game from Left Field.  He is officially my hero.

A wild pitch put two runners in scoring position, followed by a walk, but Joe Sanders flew out, ending the threat.

The C’s piled it on in the 2nd, with back-to-back walks to open things off (totaling 5 walks in two innings), before a Dream sac bunt, and a Crisostomo ground out scored Wilfredo Sosa.  Nino Leyja hit a rope to Center, according to Rob Fai, C’s broadcaster, but it was right to Wheeler who caught it for the final out.  2-0.

Again in the 3rd McAtee struggled, giving up a lead-off single to Walton, and a walk to Dixon (#6), which set-up a perfect bunt situation, but Walton was thrown out at 3rd, putting runners in the same position as before.

A wild pitch and a walk put the bases loaded, and then an infield fly made there two outs in the inning, but Michael Gilmartin hit a smooth infield single, scoring a run, Vancouver’s third of the game.  A wild pitch scored Ryan Ortiz, 4-0 Canadians after a trio of innings.

McAtee’s day was done, having walked 7 batters in three innings, and giving up 4 runs, but Ricky Testa didn’t fare any better, walking Jose Crisostomo and then throwing a wild pitch, mixed with a stolen base which put El Rey on 3rd.  He scored on Kent Walton’s sac fly, 5-0.  Vancouver had to this point, scored a run every inning.

With a pair of pitchers warming up in the Canadians bullpen, Hector Garcia knew the 5th inning would be his last, but with two gone and a runner on 3rd, a fly ball to left center dropped in between Rashun Dixon and Tyreace House (right), allowing the first run of the game to score for the home team.  Jorge Arrioja came in for Garcia, and got a quick pop up.

Unfortunately for the young Venezuelan, Kyle Christensen was ready to pitch and came into the game to open the 6th, and a passed ball and wild pitch in the same at-bat allowed Kevin Clark to advance two bases after his double, and to score.  5-2.

Christensen was still in during the 7th, and with runners in scoring position (2), he got a fly out, which was too shallow for Joey Wong to tag up and score from 3rd, and a clutch strikeout to Mike Zuanich ended the inning.  Great job by Christensen.

Vancouver got back on the board in the 8th, as Wilfredo Sosa and Michael Gilmartin scored, on separate plays (a Tyreace House ground out and a double steal situation).

Bo Schultz, looking to rebound from an alright performance earlier in the week, struck out a pair and picked up a groundout, ending the game.  7-2 Canadians victory.

Nat Notes Hitter of the Game: Michael Gilmartin (left) 2-3, RBI, BB, Run. Although Rashun Dixon, Jose Crisostomo and Wilfredo Sosa all had a good chance to win for tonight, Gilmartin is picking up his game, and now has four hits in a Canadians uniform.

Nat Notes Pitcher of the Game: Hector Garcia, 4.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 3 SO.  If Hector had picked up the final out in the 5th, on a ball to the gap in the OF that could’ve been caught, he would not only have picked up the win, but he wouldn’t have allowed a run for the second straight game.  None the less, his ERA is just above 1.00 and he is the best starting pitcher who has thrown in a pair of games this year.

Game Notes:

- 4.1 innings of relief pitching allowed Kyle Christensen, Jorge Arrioja and Bo Schultz to pick up time on the mound, and they made the most of it, giving up four hits and one run, striking out 6 over that time.

- Opposing starter Brad McAtee in 3 innings only gave up two hits, and Vancouver’s first five runs were on just two hits, but he walked 7, and struck out only one.  His ERA is a league-worst 10.13.  

- Jose Crisostomo is batting .400 this year, and hit .500 in that recent series.  He is 6-12 with two walks, 2 SB, and 3 runs scored over that Tri-City away series.

- After reaching base safely in four of his first five games via a hit, Nino Leyja picked up one last night, his first since June 24th.  He is batting .290 and remains a treat to watch on the field.

- Leyja has 3 SB as well, which is second on the team, one behind Rashun Dixon, who is tied with Hak-Ju Lee of Boise for the league lead.

- Hector Garcia leads the league in ERA, despite not having picked up a decision in 2 appearances.  Batters are hitting just .200 against him.

- Kent Walton’s single gave him a hitting streak of 3 games, and he has hit successfully in 6 of his 8 games as a DH.

- Rashun Dixon throwing out Tim Wheeler at home, was his third OF assist in as many games, and he now leads the team, one better than Tyreace House.  He has thrown out two at 2B and one at home.

- Kyle Christensen is now 2-0, picking up wins in both of Hector Garcia’s starts.  If it’s a duo of Garcia/Christensen for the time being, it will be a treat to watch, with Hector’s next start coming on July 2nd vs the Volcanoes (Noise Maker Giveaway will allow fans to make noise for the duo, if it should stay this way).