Written by Jay D Haughton Thursday, Aug 03 2023
A bit of Deja Vu for the Moose Jaw Miller Express on Wednesday night, as for the second-consecutive game, the Medicine Hat Mavericks would score six runs in the seventh inning on their way to an 8-6 win.
Also, for the second-straight game, Moose Jaw would have a sizeable lead heading into the seventh inning, but again would struggle, which now drops them to 35-18 on the season.
Moose Jaw wouldn’t give up, as they would put together a ninth-inning rally, but with two runners on base and two out, a lineout to left field would end the game for the Miller Express.
Starter Gabe Soto was suburb on the mound pitching six innings, allowing only two runs on six hits and had three strikeouts. Andrew Barger took the loss allowing five runs on four hits and then was pulled with no outs in the top of the seventh.
Like the game on Monday, Moose Jaw would strike first in the bottom of the first inning.
With two men on and two outs, Greyson Barrett came through with a two-run double, which scored Austin Gurney and Dawson Tweet, and Moose Jaw was out to the early 2-0 lead.
Medicine Hat responded in the second inning with a single run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, Greyson Barrett picked up his third RBI of the night with a groundout to first base to score Thomas Soto from third and it was now a 3-1 game.
The next batter, Dougie Delacruz, crushed a double off the centre field wall to score Austin Gurney and Moose Jaw was out in front 4-1.
Moose Jaw tacked on another run in the fourth inning after Thomas Soto grounded out to second base, which scored Bobby Pokorney to make the score 5-1.
In the top of the fifth, Medicine Hat got that run back after a solo home run by Ryan Dousett to cut Moose Jaw’s lead to 5-2.
In the top of the seventh, Gabe Soto would be relieved, and Andrew Barger came into the game.
A total of twelve batters came to the plate for Medicine Hat, as they yet again scored six runs in the inning to take an 8-5 lead. Moose Jaw would use three pitchers in the inning with Andrew Barger giving up four runs on four hits, followed by Julian Gonzalez, who pitched only two-thirds of an inning allowing one run, and then Tristan Seitz got the final out.
Moose Jaw would put up a fight in the bottom of the ninth inning. Dawson Tweet led off the inning with a single, which was followed up with a two-out double by Chaz Poppy. Greyson Barrett hit a single to score Tweet from third and Moose Jaw was within two.
Dougie Delazcruz would line out to left field to end the ball game, with Moose Jaw losing 8-6.
The Mavericks would earn the two-game sweep and the season series win over Moose Jaw with a record of 7-3.
Moose Jaw will look to rebound on Thursday night against the Beavers in Weyburn.
The Miller Express will return to Ross Wells Park on Friday and Saturday, as they welcome the Sylvan Lake Gulls for a two-game series to wrap up their regular season schedule. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.