MOOSE JAW -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express found the win column for the third-straight game on Thursday, but it was anything but an easy night against the Medicine Hat Mavericks.
The teams exchanged substantial leads early before Moose Jaw would score in the bottom of the ninth to take an 11-10 win at Ross Wells Park.
The Regina Red Sox didn’t have nearly as much difficulty, rolling to a 10-3 victory over the winless 57’s in Swift Current.
Moose Jaw 11, Medicine Hat 10
Miller Express clean-up hitter Jackson Yeager came up with the big hit for Moose Jaw in the ninth inning, with his bases-loaded, one-out single bringing home Ben Waliczek with the game-winning run.
Moose Jaw had gotten off to a great start, with four runs in the fourth and three in the second building a 7-2 lead. Medicine Hat got all of that back and then some with a seven-spot in the top of the third, but the Express would regain the lead with three more in the bottom of the frame.
The Mavericks then tied the game in the top of the sixth, setting up Yeager’s late-game heroics.
Thomas Soto led Moose Jaw’s offence with a 3-for-5 night that included his first home run of the season, three runs scored and two RBI. Austin Gurney also had a solid night, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
Tyler Vanneste and Micah Dvorak each hit home runs for Medicine Hat, with Vanesste finishing 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Kam Sparrowhawk had a tough start on the mound for Moose Jaw, giving up nine runs on 10 hits in 2 ⅔ innings of work, but the Express relievers would largely shut things down from there. Joe Gutierrez and Landen Zehr pitched the fourth and fifth, with Zehr giving up a single run, before Christian Garcia tossed 3 ⅓ shutout innings, giving up a single hit. Nathan Pisio picked up the final two outs.
It was a similar situation for the Mavericks, who saw Zack Hlinsky give up seven runs in 1 ⅓ before Garrick Levesque and Jesse Alfaro went into the seventh inning. Luke Barrientos gave up the winning run in the ninth.
Moose Jaw improves to 3-3 and are back in action tonight when they host the Saskatoon Berries, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
Regina 10, Swift Current 5
The Red Sox got back on the winning track thanks to a big fourth inning that saw Regina put up five runs and take a 7-1 lead, an edge that they’d never relinquish.
Justin Simard led Regina with his best game of the season at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Matthew Fox had a single hit for the Sox, but walked twice and crossed the plate three times. Brady Bye was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Swift Current managed only three hits off the Regina pitching staff, but Jose Ayala had a big one, belting a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Justin Ogando and Silas Hilton had their other knocks.
Kai Langford had a great start on the mound for Regina, tossing a quality start while allowing a single run on three hits and striking out seven over six innings. Zander Oudie-Senger allowed two runs on four walks over the next two innings, but Colton Bank struck out the side to finish things off in the ninth.
Max Noto started for the 57’s and allowed seven runs on eight his in 3 ⅔ before Hunter Mark pitched the next 4 ⅓ and gave up a single run on two hits. Dejon Mitchell closed things out, giving up a pair of runs.
The two teams will rematch tonight in Swift Current, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
Other results Thursday saw Fort McMurray defeat Weyburn 8-6, Okotoks shut out Sylvan Lake 6-0 and Lethbridge take a 6-2 win over Energy City.
