Thing is, there still was one more inning to play.
The 57’s scored seven runs in the top of the ninth, sending 10 men to the plate and keyed by a three-run home run off the bat of Luis Navarro, on their way to taking a 10-2 win at Ross Wells Park.
The Express fell to 23-22 on the season with the loss and are all but locked into fourth place in the Eastern Division, trailing the Weyburn Beavers by four games and leading the Melville Millionaires by 7 ½ with eight games remaining in the regular season.
Things were looking good for Moose Jaw in the early going as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Ty Lightley scored on a sacrifice fly from Cole Warken.
Warken would finish the game 0-for-3, marking only the second time in the last 11 games the veteran Miller Express designated hitter didn’t have a base hit. His average now sits at .357, second best on the team.
One of the defensive highlights of the night for the home squad came from catcher Markus Melendez in the fifth inning, as he gunned down Elvin Alamo and Breyden Eckout on consecutive attempts to steal second for the final two outs of the frame.
Batterymate Michael Borst did his part to keep the 57’s in check as well, putting together a quality start while giving up two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Swift Current were able to get to reliever Michael Ross, though, scoring their other eight runs on seven hits as Ross closed out the game.
The Miller Express are back in action tonight when they travel to Swift Current.
Extra innings… the Express were without head coach Rich Sorenson on the bench as he remains in hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy earlier in the week… the Express are looking to set an attendance record at Ross Wells Park with their upcoming Pack the Park Night on Saturday, Aug. 3… the current attendance record is around 670, with their most recent game drawing 487 and 7,088 total for their 20 home dates so far this season… the night will feature a host of special draws, prize giveaways and drink specials throughout the evening… tickets are available at Ultimate Fan Zone, at the ball park before the game or by contacting Cory Olafson (306-631-8893) or Darryl Pisio (306-630-8108).
