MOOSE JAW -- The Swift Current 57’s haven’t had a lot of success against the Moose Jaw Miller Express in their recent run of Western Canadian Baseball League contests, but their offence came together in a major way on Friday night and led to a big win.
The 57’s built a 15-4 lead through seven innings before hanging on for a 15-10 victory at Ross Wells Park in Moose Jaw. The Weyburn Beavers also found success at home, downing the Sylvan Lake Gulls 10-4, while the Energy City Cactus Rats defeated the Regina Red Sox for the second time in as many nights, taking a 6-4 win in Regina.
The game between the Saskatoon Berries and Medicine Hat Mavericks in Medicine Hat was one of three Alberta contests rained out.
Swift Current 15, Moose Jaw 10
The 57’s scored four runs in the second and sixth innings and steadily chipped away in between as they built their substantial lead. The Express rallied with six runs over the final two innings, including five in the ninth, but couldn’t close the gap.
Rydell Adair had a game to remember for Swift Current, hitting a grand slam in the second inning and finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored and six runs batted in. Luis Ayala also had a solid contest, going 4-for-6 with a home run, four runs and three RBi, while Silas Hilton had a three-run homer in the sixth and went 3-for-6 with four RBI.
Eric Deringer led Moose Jaw with a 2-for-4 showing that included a round tripper of his own and two RBI, while Austin Gurney and Adrian Vivo also knocked in a pair apiece.
Ryker Ratcliff was the winning pitcher, allowing four runs on nine hits in 5 ⅓ innings of work.
Landen Zehr took the loss for Moose Jaw, giving up six runs on nine hits in 3 ⅓ innings.
Swift Current improved to 4-15 with the win and remain in sixth in the East Division, Moose Jaw fell to 10-9 and are percentage points back of Regina in fourth.
Weyburn 10, Sylvan Lake 4
Slow and steady was the winning formula for the Beavers, as they scored single runs in five innings and a pair in the third on their way to building a 7-4 lead through six. A three-spot in the eighth would act as valuable insurance, and Weyburn would hold on for the win the rest of the way.
The ball was flying out of Tom Laing Park for the Beavers, as Ryan Dauphinee, Ian Heck, Trevor Dale and Chett McDaniel all hit home runs. McDaniel ended up with a 3-for-3 night that included three runs and a pair of RBI, while Heck and Dale each scored two and knocked in a pair.
Bryce Turner was the only member of the Gulls with more than one hit, as he went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Cam MacLeod hit a double and had two RBI.
Dylan Parton started for Weyburn and had a decent outing, allowing four runs -- all in the fifth inning -- on eight hits over 4 ⅓ and striking out six. Logan Kinter saw to it there’d be no comeback, pitching 4 ⅔ scoreless innings of relief and striking out nine.
Joshua Tucker was the losing pitcher, allowing four runs on seven hits over three innings.
Weyburn is now 6-12 on the season and are fifth in the East, Sylvan Lake falls to 10-9 and are third in the West.
Energy City 6, Regina 4
The Cactus Rats did most of their damage with a pair of runs in the first and three in the fourth for an early 5-1 lead before holding off a Regina comeback in the later innings.
Kenyon Sanders was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI for Energy City, while Zach Pyles knocked in a pair and Ten Shindo crossed the plate twice.
Jalen Seward went 3-for-5 for Regina, knocking in a run, while Brady Bye was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
Braden Giardina had an outstanding game on the mound for the Cactus Rats, putting together a quality start while allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits over 7 ⅔, striking out five. Sebastian Minzer tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
Holden Hungerford was the losing pitcher, allowing six runs, only three earned, on five hits over five innings.
Energy City is now 8-10 and sit fourth in the West, Regina drops to 9-8 and sit third in the East.
Six games are on tap tonight, with Energy City at Saskatoon, Sylvan Lake at Regina, Okotoks at Lethbridge and Weyburn at Swift Current. Moose Jaw was to play in Medicine Hat, but that game has been postponed until June 23 due to heavy rain in Alberta.
