Late rally falls short for Hops in fourth straight defeat

Make it six.

The Vancouver Canadians made a little history Thursday night, defeating Hillsboro 6-5 on June 27, at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver.

The win was the sixth straight for the Canadians, the longest winning streak since the team moved to the High-A level in 2021.

Jeff Wehler broke a 3-3 tie with a three-run home run to left field with two outs in the seventh inning and the C’s (6-0) held off a Hillsboro rally in the ninth for a 6-5 victory.

The Hops’ ninth inning rally started with one-out walks to Gavin Logan and Cole Roberts. Then, after Christian Cerda struck out on three straight pitches, Jean Walters and Gavin Conticello hit consecutive singles to cut the Canadians’ lead to 6-5. But Vancouver relief pitcher Johnathan Lavallee ended the rally and ultimately the game when he struck out Jack Hurley on six pitches.

The loss was the fourth straight for Hillsboro (1-5).

Vancouver scored a run in the third inning, two in the sixth, and three more in the seventh.

Hillsboro got a single run in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning before getting their final two in the ninth.

Walters had three hits for the Hops Thursday night, giving him seven hits combined over his last two games.

Kevin Sim finished 2-for-4 with a home run.

Vancouver’s Wehler finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run-scored.

Canadian starter Connor O’Halloran allowed on earned run on four hits in six innings of work.

Hops starter Logan Clayton allowed two earned runs on five hits over five innings.

The two teams will play again at 1:05 p.m. this afternoon, in Vancouver.