Canadians cruise past Indians

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Noah Syndergaard threw five sharp innings and Nicholas Baligod hit a two-run homer as the Vancouver Canadians cruised past the Spokane Indians 9-5 in Wednesday’s Northwest League play at Nat Bailey Stadium. Syndergaard (1-0), a first-round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays in last year’s draft, allowed four hits and no earned runs while striking out six and walking one. Baligod’s first homer of the year, a two-out, two-run blast to right field to cap a three-run fifth, gave the Canadians a 7-1 lead. The advantage grew to 8-1 in the sixth on Shane Opitz’s RBI single. Spokane rallied slightly in the final two innings. Trever Adams’ 16th double of the season drove in two runs during a three-run eighth, and Jorge Alfaro hit his fourth homer of the season in the ninth, a solo shot to right. Adams finished 2 for 4 to lift his batting average to .311. Spokane’s Nicholas Martinez (0-1) allowed three hits and just one earned run in four innings. Vancouver leads the five-game series 2-0. Both teams have 3-5 records in the second half of the NWL season.