After putting together a pair of wins against two of the division’s top teams to start the week, the Express have now dropped their last three games, falling 7-6 to the 57's on Saturday and 11-2 to the Weyburn Beavers in their most recent contest Sunday afternoon.
Moose Jaw now sits with a 23-24 record with nine games remaining in the regular season and have all but clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division as they hold a 7 ½ game lead in fourth place over the Melville Millionaires.
Swift Current 7, Express 6
Isiah Campa knocked home Vinny Margiotta with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to give the 57's the walk-off win.
Jeff Nicolosi got the start for Moose Jaw and was hit hard by a pair of errors, including a second-inning miscue that eventually saw four unearned runs score, the majority coming off a three-run home run from John Sechen.
Swift Current extended that lead with 6-0 before the Express rebounded in style, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs in the seventh inning. Cole Warken brought a pair of those runs home with a two-run single before himself scoring on a bases-loaded balk from the 57's’ Aaron Pugh. Alex Orenczuk made Pugh pay further when two pitches later his single to right field brought home the fifth and sixth Moose Jaw runs.
Ty Lightley was the only Express hitter with multiple knocks, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Weyburn 11, Express 2
Little went right for Moose Jaw in their visit with the Beavers, as Weyburn built a 4-0 lead through three innings, 6-1 through five and blew things open with a five-spot in the sixth to go ahead 11-1.
Ethan Soroka surrendered six runs on five hits while walking six in five innings of work to take the loss.
Dougie DelaCruz finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, while Lightley was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Geordie McDougall 1-for-3 with a run scored.
The Miller Express are back in action Tuesday when they host the Yorkton Cardinals for a doubleheader. Game time for game one is 6 p.m., with game two at 7 p.m. at Ross Wells Park. Both contests will be seven innings.
Extra innings… the Express are looking to set an attendance record at Ross Wells Park with their upcoming Pack the Park Night on Saturday, Aug. 3 against the Weyburn Beavers… 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 ballpark before the game or by contacting Cory Olafson (306-631-8893) or Darryl Pisio (306-630-8108).
