MOOSE JAW — There’s a new leader atop the Western Canadian Baseball League East Division.
Thanks to a commanding 15-2 win over the Brooks Bombers in Brooks on Thursday night, the Moose Jaw Miller Express picked up their fourth-straight win and have improved to 22-11 on the campaign, pulling a half-game ahead of the Saskatoon Berries for top spot in the Division.
In one other Saskatchewan game Thursday, the Regina Red Sox saw the Okotoks Dawgs rally late before taking a 10-9 walk-off victory at Currie Field.
Moose Jaw 15, Brooks 2
After Brooks took a 2-0 lead out of the opening inning, Moose Jaw steadily chipped away before a pair of back-to-back big frames put things away for good. That included a five-run fifth that made it a 9-2 outing before the Express put up six the next inning to pull away for good.
Chris Franks continued to swing a hot bat as of late for Moose Jaw, going 4-for-5 with two runs and a run batted in, while Michael Rago made the most of his lone hit of the night with a two-run home run in the fifth and also scored three runs. Pacey Phillips went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI, Will Edwards crossed the plate twice.
It was a solid outing for the Express’ pitchers, with Aidan Johnson and three relievers tossing shutout ball after the opening inning. Johnson allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five over five, Gio Lugo, Cam Beisal and Simon Hayden each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Asahi Nakano and Erick Ballenilla scored Brooks’ runs, with Owen Fernandes knocking both home.
Hudson Groh was the losing pitcher after allowing four runs on four hits over the first four innings.
Brooks falls to 9-21 and are fifth in the West Division.
Regina 10, Okotoks 9
Two runs in the first, four in the second and two more in the third gave Regina an early 8-2 lead, but the Dawgs would come all the way back, scoring four in the seventh to make it 9-6, scoring two more in the eighth and then tying things up in the top of the ninth.
That set the stage for Jake Fowler’s game-winning hit, as he knocked home Brady Bye for the walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.
Will Togher hit a three-run home run for Regina in the second and finished 4-for-6 with two runs and four RBI, while Fowler went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI and Jalen Meyers crossed the plate three times. Bye and Lance Anderson scored a pair of runs apiece.
Aiden Crouse led Okotoks with a 4-for-5 showing that included a pair of RBI, Lachlan Maude and Jack Lussier each scored two runs. Landon Kauffman was 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Kris Hahn started for Regina and had a quality start, allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings and striking out four. David Gordon picked up the win.
Bracken Rice was Okotoks’ most effective pitcher, coming on in the third and tossing four shutout innings; Max McCraray took the loss after giving up the winning run in the ninth.
Regina improves to 12-20 and are part of a logjam for the final playoff spot in the East as they sit a half-game back of fourth-place Weyburn.
Okotoks falls to 24-10 and are tied for first in the West with Lethbridge.
Up Next
Four games involving Saskatchewan teams are on tap Friday, with Regina at Medicine Hat (6:45 p.m.), Saskatoon at Swift Current (6:57 p.m.), Okotoks at Weyburn (7:05 p.m.) and Moose Jaw at Lethbridge (7:10 p.m.).
