Oh, Canada

In a rare matchup of homegrown starting pitchers – and coinciding with Canada’s 133rd birthday – Montreal’s Mike Johnson (pictured here with Team Canada) finds himself on the losing end of a 6-5 decision to Florida’s Ryan Dempster 24 years ago today before a smallish Saturday night crowd of 8,529 at Olympic Stadium.

Ryan Dempster

Johnson, a native of Edmonton, lasts only four innings, giving up all six of Florida’s runs on eight hits and two walks.

Dempster, the pride of the district of Sechelt in British Columbia, fares much better than Johnson, picking up the win after allowing three runs in six-plus innings.

Dempster also helps himself with a two-out RBI single off Johnson in the top of the fourth inning to give Florida a 4-1 lead.

For his career, Dempster enjoys pitching at Olympic Stadium, where he is 5-0 in eight starts from 1998-2004.