The Vancouver Canadians will play four more games — three of them at Nat Bailey Stadium — but for the first time in five years, the season won’t be capped with a trip to the playoffs.
Starting pitcher Josh DeGraaf, drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 31st round, allowed just one run on two hits over six innings at Gesa Stadium in Pasco, Wa. Wednesday night, but the right-hander was effectively stranded by his offence. Vancouver lost 1-0 to the Tri-City Dust Devils and will not play for a place in the post-season.
Tri-City recorded its second shutout of the season and struck out 11 Canadians batters. It makred the fifth time Vancouver failed to score in a game this summer.
The lone run came after Dust Devil first baseman Nick Vilter hit a lead-off double in the fifth inning and then advanced to third on a bunt from designated hitter Mason Smith, who still reached base on the short hopper, after the Canadians infield couldn’t tag Vilter.
With runners on the corners, DeGraff gave up a one-out grounder that brought Vilter to the plate for the winning run.
Elsewhere, the Everett AquaSox sealed Vancouver's fate by beating Spokane 8-5. Spokane's seven errors didn't go far in giving the C's the help they needed. Sitting four games behind Everett before the evening games, Vancouver's chances hung by a thread: the post-season was unreachable if the C's lost one and the AquaSox won one. It happened too fast.
The Canadians play the Dust Devils tonight before returning to Vancouver for a three-game series against the AquaSox (20-14). The C’s trail the Northwest League leaders by five games.
With Wednesday’s loss, Vancouver falls to 15-19 the second half of the season and 31-41 overall for 2015.
