It was a late night at Memorial Field Tuesday but the game was entertaining right up until the end as the Park Hotel Giants came up short in their comeback and fell to the Canadians 12-10 in nine innings.
The three-hour-plus battle saw the Canadians take a 4-1 lead in the first inning, only to have the Giants surge and keep pace with them, eventually forcing extra innings with the score tied at 8-8.
The Canadians' two runs in the eighth were matched by the Giants, forcing another inning where the International Rule - in which the last batter out for the team starts the inning on second base - was put into effect.
But timely RBIs by Chris Holoien and Brett Friesen, and crucial late-stage pitching by Xavier Tremblay, gave the Canadians all the breathing room they needed in the ninth.
The victory gives the Canadians a 1-0 lead in the league championship final.
"It was a really good game, both ways. Hard to hold those guys down," said Tremblay. "They're a good hitting team. Never let your guard down."
The lengthy game ended just after 11 p.m., and some of the fans and players alike were jokingly complaining about their bedtimes.
"Am I tired? No, not really, actually," laughed Giants left-fielder Terry Banilevic. "I was tired before the game, but I think the adrenaline picked me up."
Friesen hit a solo home run as the first batter of the game, while Lee Smith of the Giants had a two-run homer in the fourth. Colin Folk, Jeff Weekes and Holoien each had two runs for the Canadians. Darryl Callaghan scored three for the Giants and went 5-for-5 at the plate.
Despite the loss, the Giants were looking to take some positives out of the game.
"I don't think we're disappointed," said Banilevic. "We went out there and made a lot of mistakes. We need to learn not to get on the umpire after every call . . . maybe that's taking a bit of our focus away."
The series was billed in advance by both sides as a close match up where hitting would be key. That was clearly on display Tuesday, and both teams expect it to continue.
"Both teams have a great defence," said Banilevic. "It's who makes the fewest mistakes and who capitalizes on the opportunities to score runs."
Tremblay said his team will be going into the next game with the same strategy.
"Just hit the ball. That's all we've got to do," he said. "And if we hit the ball and get a few runs... well, we know these guys are not going to lay down and die."
Game Two takes place Thursday at Memorial Field. All games in the series will take place at 8 p.m.
Taylor Lambert can be reached at 691-1260
