Under the C’s – Kasevich, Machado lead Vancouver to another walk-off victory

LHP Adam Macko had his best night since coming to the Blue Jays organization in the Teoscar Hernandez trade last November, allowing no runs and throwing eleven strikeouts in five innings pitched, matching both a career-best and Vancouver season-high for strikeouts. In his five innings pitched, the lefty ended his inning with three strikeouts three times, stranded two, and didn’t walk a single Spokane batter in his time on the mound.

It was a strong night for both starters, as Spokane’s Jarrod Cande was just as deadly for the visitors, clocking in seven strikeouts in seven innings, and 100 pitches thrown on the night.

Both of the bullpens did their jobs during the regulation portion of the game, keeping the game tied at donuts after nine innings. In the top of the 10th, Spokane shortstop Nic Kent would bounce a sacrifice bunt about six feet south of the mound, giving Juan Guerrero the opportunity to sneak his way home and finally break the deadlock, as the road team led by one.

After closing out the top of the inning, the bottom of the inning started abruptly, as Josh Kasevich was hit in the elbow by the first pitch of the stanza, putting the winning run on base.  After Garrett Spain struck out swingin’, Gabby Martinez sent a line drive to centre field, bringing home “placed runner” Cade Doughty from second base.

That set the stage for Estiven Machado.  The Machado Man sent a line drive double up the first base line, staying on the fair side of the line until it cleared the dirt, before it bounced into the Spokane bullpen, giving Josh Kasevich all the time in the world to sprint home from second for Vancouver’s 11th walk-off win of the year.

With the victory, the C’s improved their home record to a ridiculous 19-3 at Nat Bailey Stadium, which they hope to improve on, as their next eleven games are all at The Nat.