REGINA — A fast start and a solid finish were enough for the Regina Red Sox to find the win column against the Saskatoon Berries in Western Canadian Baseball League action on Thursday night.
The Red Sox scored a run in the first, two in the second and another two in the third to build a 5-2 lead and would go on to an 8-6 victory at Currie Field in Regina.
That was the only contest for Saskatchewan teams on Thursday, as the game between the Moose Jaw Miller Express and Weyburn Beavers in Weyburn was once again rained out and will be rescheduled for another date.
With the Red Sox getting things done at the plate at the start of the game, Regina starting pitcher Aiden Shumaker did his part to keep Saskatoon from getting anything back. He’d hold the Berries’ high-powered offence to only two runs through the first four innings and would leave the game in the fifth after allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out nine.
That pair of runs in the fifth would give Saskatoon life, but Regina replied with two more insurance markers in the bottom of the inning and would tack on another in the seventh to close out scoring on the night.
David Gordon ended up with the save for the Red Sox, pitching the final 3 ⅔ innings and striking out seven while allowing a single hit.
Chance Descalchuk led Regina’s offence, going 4-for-4 with a double and run batted in, while Raine Kreklewetz and Alex Roux each had a single hit and knocked in a pair. Daniel Castellanos had a single hit but crossed the plate three times, reigning WCBL Player of the Week Brady Bye had a single hit and picked up a run and RBI.
Josh Henson made the most of his single hit for Saskatoon, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning, while Nick Stinson was 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and two RBI.
Owen Roberts got the start for the Berries and took the loss after allowing five runs, two earned, on four hits over 2 ⅔ innings work.
Regina improved to 5-5 with their second-straight win and are now in third place in the East Division, 2 ½ games back of Saskatoon, who hold down first with an 8-3 mark.
Both teams are back in action on Friday, with Saskatoon at Moose Jaw (7:05 p.m.), Weyburn at Regina (7:05 p.m.). The Swift Current 57’s are also in action, as they travel to Okotoks to face the Dawgs (7:05 p.m.).
