By Randy Palmer
Moose Jaw scores five in the eighth to overcome 7-5 deficit, go on to 10-7 win in Western Canadian Baseball League action
MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM — The Moose Jaw Miller Express have seen their high-powered offence come through with a handful of comeback wins already this season, and they were at it once again on Tuesday night.
The Express scored five runs in the eighth inning to overcome a 7-5 deficit and would go on to a 10-7 victory over the Weyburn Beavers in Western Canadian Baseball League action in Weyburn.
Moose Jaw improved to 8-7 with the win and are now 1 ½ games back of the Medicine Hat Mavericks for first place in the East Division.
Declan O’Hare started the late-game rally with a double to right field that scored Nate Mensik and Elijah Bear to tie the game, and two batters later a Thomas Soto single would bring home Robert Estrada and Julian Gonzalez with go-ahead and insurance runs. Nathan Houston then tripled to bring home Soto, and the Express would have their three-run lead coming home.
That was more than enough for reliever Jaden Canelli, who retired the side in order in the ninth to secure the win.
It was a solid game in general at the plate for Soto, who went 3-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored and a pair of runs batted in. Houston was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, and Austin Gurney hit his third home run of the season in the fifth, finishing the night 1-for-4 with three RBI.
Bo Jacob Garza kept Moose Jaw in the hunt with his showing on the mound, going 5 ? and allowing six runs, five earned on three hits and striking out eight. After struggling over the previous week, the Miller Express bullpen was all but lights out from there, as Cameron Dunn tossed two innings of scoreless relief before Canelli finished things off.
Weyburn’s Owen McConnell allowed four runs on six hits over six innings before Moose Jaw got to their bullpen, putting up three runs off Mathieu Rochleau and another two off Ethan Webster as they made their comeback.
Former Miller Express catcher Robert Gurney — the brother of Austin Gurney — had a good night at the plate for Weyburn, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Ian Heck scored a pair of runs, while Ryan Muizelaar and Ryan Webster had a pair of RBI each.
The Miller Express have five games remaining this week, as they’re in Swift Current on Wednesday before hosting the Regina Red Sox on Thursday. They then hit the road for three games in Weyburn on Friday and Medicine Hat on Saturday and Sunday.
Game time for Thursday’s contest is 7 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.