10 Photos — Vancouver Canadians vs. Eugene July 18

Friday, July 19 2013 @ 07:12 AM EDT

The Vancouver Canadians were looking to keep their first-half playoff hopes alive as they opened up a five-game series against the Eugene Emeralds — an affiliate of the San Diego Padres — Thursday night at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Jeremy Gabryszwski warms up in the bullpen. He would pitch 5 2/3 innings for the win, giving up two runs on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts. His ERA "swelled" to 1.13 on the season.

Matt Hitt stands in the batter's box while Michael Reeves catches Gabryszwski in the bullpen.

The Canadians were trailing 1-0 heading into the third but Melvin Garcia would change that with a leadoff double in his first plate appearance in Vancouver. He would score the game's first run.

Chaz Frank put Garcia 90 feet away from home with a single and he was able to get to second base on a throwing error by the Eugene left fielder. That was part of a six-run rally to make it 6-1 Canadians.

Dickie Thon Jr. — who took a 93 mph fastball in the back in the first inning — shook that off and belted his first homer on a 92 mph heater to left field to make it 7-2 Vancouver in the fourth. He gets congratulated by manager Clayton McCullough.

Justin James stranded a runner for Gabryszwski and pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings of one-hit ball with one strikeout.

Jordan Leyland added even more insurance as he went deep to right field in the eighth inning.

Chuck Ghysels walked the leadoff man in the ninth but got a double play ball to put the Canadians one out away from victory.

Surrey, BC's Justin Atkinson — who delivered a key two-run double in the middle of the six-run rally in the third — catches a pop up at third base to end the game.

The Canadians helped themselves with double digit totals in the run and hit columns but the Eugene defence helped out too by committing five errors.

• Jeremy Gabryszwski was throwing his fastball was around 86-88 miles per hour in the early going but that did increase to 89-91 as the game went along. He was using his offspeed stuff more as the game went along. His curve was around 78-79 MPH and his other offerings were around 82-83 (mix between changeups and sliders, I think!). Justin James topped out in the 85-86 MPH range and used a curveball that clocked in at 75. Chuck Ghysels was around 90-91 MPH with his fastball.
• It was nice to see the long ball at the Nat agian. Dan Klein had the hit only dinger at home for the C's before they tripled their output with those blasts by Dickie Thon Jr. and Jordan Leyland. Thon Jr. is a tough hombre after taking a fastball in the back. I think everyone in the stadium heard it. Thon Jr. managed to score a run in a close play at the plate.
• Both managers had their issues with the umpiring tonight. Vancouver skipper Clayton McCullough came out to argue after the base umpire ruled Justin Atkinson was out of the baseline when he tried to break up a double play in the second. Michael Reeves out at first base as a result. Atkinson went after the second baseman but was still within striking distance of the second base bag. It's not like he was in Burnaby so that was a bad call in my opinion.
• Eugene manager Jim Gabella argued twice with the home plate ump for two close plays at the plate, one in the third and another in the fourth. I believe it was Thon Jr. who was ruled safe in the third and Andy Fermin slid his leg to home plate in the fourth before he was tagged. Gabella was given the heave-ho. I thought the calls were correct in both instances.
• Today, the C's will go with Colton Turner "Overdrive" on the mound in a Friday "Nooner at the Nat". First pitch is 1:05 pm Pacific Time.
  

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