The Moose Jaw Miller Express just can’t seem to catch a break lately in Western Canadian Baseball League action.
On nights when their pitching is solid, the bats aren’t there. Or when the bats are getting things done, the pitching staff struggles. On Wednesday night against the Brooks Bombers, it was the defence’s turn to have a rough night.
The Miller Express would commit seven errors, including three in the third inning as Brooks put up nine runs, leading to a 16-8 loss at Ross Wells Park.
The loss was the fifth straight for Moose Jaw and saw the local squad drop into a tie for first place in the Eastern Division with the Regina Red Sox. A little over a week ago, they had a 4 ½ game lead thanks to an eight-game winning streak, and the tie atop the standings is the first time Moose Jaw hasn’t had the lead to themselves since the second week of the regular season.
The game was tied 2-2 through two innings, but the Bombers would send 14 batters to the plate in the third, recording four hits, three walks and using the three defensive miscues to take an 11-2 lead.
That led to starter Cameron Dunn taking the loss, with only two of the nine runs scored against him counting as earned. He left after getting two outs in the third inning, with Triston Seitz coming in and allowing two unearned runs on two hits in the next 1 ⅓ innings.
True to form, the Express didn’t go quietly.
Moose Jaw scored single runs in the fourth and fifth -- with a solo home run from Nate Mensik getting the job done in the latter inning -- to make it a 12-4 game.
Mensik was at it again in the seventh, with a two-run round-tripper giving him 11 on the season and keying a four-run inning that suddenly had Moose Jaw in touch with the lead.
A solid relief effort from J.J. Padilla played a part in that, as he’d allow a single run on two hits in three innings of work, giving the offence a chance to close ground.
Moose Jaw wouldn’t be able to finish off the comeback, though, and Brooks tagged on four runs in the top of the ninth off reliever Nathan Varjassy to put things away once and for all.
Nick Parsons led the Brooks offence with a 2-for-4 night that included three runs and four RBI.
The Miller Express have a rematch against Brooks on Thursday before facing another West Division opponent the next two nights, as they host the Fort McMurray Giants on Friday and Saturday night at Ross Wells. Game times are 7:05 p.m.
