MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express and their up-and-down Western Canadian Baseball League season took another step in toward the positive on Wednesday night in Lethbridge.
The Express scored six runs in the fourth inning and never looked back on their way to an 11-3 win over the Lethbridge Bulls in Lethbridge, giving the local squad their third win in as many games.
The victory sees Moose Jaw improve to 24-22 on the season, but thanks to wins by Medicine Hat and Saskatoon on the night, nothing changed in the East Division standings: the Express remain 3 ½ games back of the Mavericks for second place and tied with Saskatoon for third.
The better news is the playoff picture -- the Express are 10 games up on the Swift Current 57’s for the fourth and final spot, and with both teams having 10 games remaining on their schedule, the Express could officially clinch tonight in Lethbridge.
The Millers wasted little time getting going, as they built a 4-0 lead through three innings before batting through their order in the fourth and building their edge to 10-3. Lethbridge got a pair back in the sixth and added another run in the ninth, but that was the extent of their offence.
That was in no small part due to the work of starting pitcher Adam Christopher and reliever Aaron Knutilla. Christopher came a single out from tossing a quality start, going 5 â…” and allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five. Knuutila finished things off in style, going 3 â…“ and allowing a single run on two hits.
Nathan Houston led the way at the plate with a 2-for-4 night that included a pair of doubles and three runs batted in, boosting his average to .404 on the season to sit second overall in the WCBL.
Ryan Gouldin hit his first home run as a member of the Express and scored a pair of runs, while Nate Mensik was 2-for-2 with two walks and a pair of runs scored. Robert Estrada and Austin Gurney also crossed the plate twice each.
Jimmy Boulanger got the start for Lethbridge and allowed four runs over three innings before the Express put up their six against Shaye McTavish. George Naramore and Evan Harbach tossed the final five innings and allowed a single run.
Kyle Yip was 2-for-4 with a triple, run scored and RBI for the Bulls.
The two teams will do it all over again on Thursday night in Lethbridge, with their next home action Friday at home against Swift Current. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
