The Moose Jaw Giants figured out how to defeat the Moose Jaw Canadians in Rambler Park Fastball League action on Tuesday night.
And their solution was anything but new and unique – score a whole bunch of runs early, play solid defence the rest of the way, and get things done in mercy-rule fashion as quick as you can.
The Giants batted through their order in the first inning, scoring six runs on four hits and rolling to an 11-4 victory at Lyle Helland Ball Diamond.
Brad Flanagan provided the big hit of the opening frame, launching a Blake Dixon offering over the left-field fence. His two-run home run put the Giants ahead 4-0 before Terry Danberg’s two-run single three batters later gave the eventual victors their six-run edge before the Canadians even had an at-bat.
Trailing 7-1, Jay Livingston got two of those back for the Canadians with a two-run shot of his own in the third, but the Giants would tack on two more in the fourth. Darryl Callaghan added another two-run home run in the sixth to put the Giants in a mercy-rule position, and Derek Ross closed things out in the sixth to earn the win.
Ross would give up the four runs on six hits while striking out three; Dixon allowed the 11 runs on 11 hits.
The Canadians fell to 9-2 on the season continue to hold down first place in the six-team Division 1; the Giants improved to 7-4 and are tied for second with the Earl Grey Rockets.
Both were back in action Friday, Aug. 21 when they took on the Piapot Aces at Kaplan Field in Regina. Next home action is Tuesday, Aug. 25 when the Canadians taking on the Piapot North Stars at 7 p.m. and the Giants take on the Highway 22 Cowboys in the final regular-season games for both teams.
