MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express seem to have themselves a Medicine Hat Mavericks problem as of late.
For the third straight game and fourth time in as many meetings, the Express fell to the Mavericks in Western Canadian Baseball League action on Wednesday night, dropping a 15-7 decision at Ross Wells Park.
The three-game skid sees Moose Jaw fall to 10-11, dropping below .500 for the first time this season and now sitting five games back of the first place Regina Red Sox in the East Division.
Medicine Hat did the majority of their damage in the fourth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs to take a 9-1 lead. They’d tack on a further five runs in the eighth to go up 14-3, and while Moose Jaw was able to claw back four runs in the ninth, they’d get no closer.
Bo Jacob Garza got the start for the Express and was solid through three innings, giving up a run on three hits and seeing the game tied 1-1 at that point. That all changed in the fourth, though, as the Mavericks scored their eight runs on seven hits, including a three-run home run off the bat of Jordan Phillips.
Drew Sorrentino tossed the next 2 â…” and was lights out, striking out a pair, before giving way to Garrett Houston, who allowed five runs on six hits the next two innings. Julian Gonzalez finished things off, allowing a run in the ninth.
Medicine Hat starter Chris Shafer held Moose Jaw to a single run on five hits over five innings, Lane McEachern allowed a single run over the next two innings and Ryan Dexter surrendered five runs over the final two frames.
Darren Hagan led the Miller Express offence with a 2-for-5 night that included a home run and two runs batted in, while Nate Mensik and Declan O’Hare were both 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
Brady Bean paced the Mavericks offence by going 4-for-5 with three runs scored; Phillips and Jaden Babiuk each had three RBI.
The two teams are right back at it on Thursday night, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
