Canadians third-baseman Kellen Sweeney made two key plays Monday afternoon at Nat Bailey Stadium to shut out the Everett AquaSox and give the Vancouver Canadians a 1-0 win and take the lead in the best-of-three West Division series.
With AquaSox runners on first and third in the bottom of the third inning, Sweeney squelched Everetts go-ahead run by charging down a ground ball and throwing the batter out at first for the third out of the inning. The game stayed scoreless.
Starting pitcher, 17-year-old Mexican right-hander Roberto Osuna, struck out six batters in three innings and allowed no hits. Relievers Jon Lucas, Colton Turner, Wil Browning and Arik Sikula shut out the AquaSox.
AquaSox starter Dylan Unsworth pitched six scoreless innings and limited the Canadians to four hits. The 20-year-old South African struck out eight batters before stepping down.
The Cs lone, late score came in the top of the eighth inning. Jorge Flores banked a stand-up double, then stole third as the AquaSox catcher couldnt get his glove on a low fastball from Everett reliever Dominic Leone.
Then Sweeney stepped to the plate with two outs in the inning and swung at the first pitch. He connected and hit a gap in right field to bring Flores home to score the first and only run of the afternoon.
The Canadians left Tuesday morning for Everett for a 7:05 p.m. game against the AquaSox at Memorial Stadium. If needed, Game 3 goes 7:05 p.m. Wednesday in Everett.
Twitter: @MHStewart
