VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- When the Tri-City Dust Devils finally managed to scratch out a lead in the 13th inning Friday against the Vancouver Canadians, they handed the ball to closer Charles Ruiz.
Ruiz nailed down his Northwest League-leading 14th save in Tri-City's 2-1 win, but it wasn't easy. Ruiz escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Michael Gilmartin to end the game.
The Dust Devils scored the go-ahead run thanks to Nathan Long's (1-2) wildness. The Canadians right-hander uncorked three wild pitches in the 13th, the last allowing Ben Paulsen to race home. Paulsen had led off the inning with a single to right.
Vancouver scored its only run on Anthony Aliotti's two-out single in the first inning, but Tri-City quickly answered in the second as Matthew Sanders doubled home Kevin Clark.
Craig Bennigson (7-3) earned the win, working 2 1/3 shutout innings.
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Dust Devils find offense in 6-4 win
Dust Devils find offense in 6-4 win
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Just when it seemed like the Tri-City Dust Devils were headed for their third consecutive miserable day at the plate, they broke out the lumber.
Jayson Langfels hit a solo homer in the seventh and a two-run triple in the eighth, powering Tri-City to a 6-4 win over the host Vancouver Canadians on Sunday.
It was part of a five-run outburst in the last three innings that dug the Dust Devils out of a 3-1 hole.
Dust Devils skid at 3 after loss in Vancouver
Dust Devils skid at 3 after loss in Vancouver
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Tri-City Dust Devils' pitching staff came up with another gem Friday at Nat Bailey Stadium in British Columbia, holding the Vancouver Canadians to just two runs on five hits.
Problem was, the Dust Devils (17-13) couldn't find any offense to support it. Tri-City finished the game with 10 runners left on base, leaving runners in scoring position in five of the nine innings.
Kevin Patterson hit an RBI triple to center field in the first inning, and Stephen McQuail followed with an RBI double to left to make it 2-0 Vancouver.
Dust Devils force Game 3 in Northwest League Championship Series
Dust Devils force Game 3 in Northwest League Championship Series
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- One day after losing Game 1 of the Northwest League Championship Series at home, the Tri-City Dust Devils gave themselves a shot to win their first NWL title.
In a tension-filled game that went down to the wire, Tri-City reliever Nelson Gonzalez faced a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the ninth inning. But he got Vancouver all-star Jon Berti to hit into a game-ending double play to give the Dust Devils a 5-3 Game 2 victory against the Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium.
"Whatever happened in the beginning (of the inning), I've still got a lot of confidence that I can finish," said Gonzalez, whose confidence in his defense was rewarded. "I know every player behind me is going to do their best to get the out. That's the biggest thing in the world."
Tri-City drops road game 7-5
Tri-City drops road game 7-5
VANCOUVER -- The Tri-City Dust Devils scored four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead but ended up giving it right back the next inning in a Northwest League loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Tim Smalling went 3-for-4 with two runs and hit his NWL-leading seventh triple of the year to tie the score at one. Tyler Massey, Jared Simon and Leonardo Reyes each added RBI singles to cap the scoring in the third.
The Dust Devils (17-13
second half) remained in first place in the East Division, but Yakima (15-15) pulled to within two games with a 6-0 win at Everett. Tri-City already clinched a NWL playoff berth by winning the first-half title.
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
PASCO -- If you look at the Northwest League website, you'll see that the Tri-City Dust Devils have vastly superior numbers to the Vancouver Canadians.
The Dust Devils swept the first half and second half East Division titles, and then went on to sweep Boise in the best-of-3 NWL divisional playoffs.
The Canadians didn't win either half in the West and backed into the playoffs after losing five of their last six regular season games.
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