MOOSE JAW — It took a nine-game winning streak to get it done, but the Moose Jaw Miller Express are once again the sole leaders atop the Western Canadian Baseball League’s East Division.
The Express rolled to a 7-2 win over the Fort McMurray Giants on Wednesday night, and that victory combined with a 10-8 loss by the Saskatoon Berries to the Lethbridge Bulls saw Moose Jaw move out of a tie with Saskatoon for top spot in the Division.
Moose Jaw improves to 27-11 and have moved a single game ahead of 26-12 Saskatoon while also closing within a game of the Okotoks Dawgs for first place overall in the league.
Other action Wednesday saw the Swift Current 57’s stage a huge comeback in a 9-8 extra inning win over the Energy City Cactus Rats and the Regina Red Sox down the Brooks Bombers 9-7, also in extras.
Regina improves to 14-23 and are in fourth place in the East, a half-game up on 13-23 Swift Current for the final playoff spot.
Moose Jaw 7, Fort McMurray 2
The Miller Express fell behind 2-1 in the second inning but steadily chipped away from there, picking up single runs in the fourth and fifth before adding a pair of insurance markers in each of the sixth and seventh.
Chris Franks led Moose Jaw’s offence, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored, while Eduardo Saenz was 2-for-4 and knocked in a pair. Ben Waliczek didn’t have a hit in the game, but he turned in an impressive feat nonetheless — after reaching on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning, Waliczek stole his way around the bases, including home, to tie the game at the time.
Aidan Johnson was the winning pitcher after giving up two runs on five hits over five innings, striking out five. Jacob Quiles had three innings of shutout relief and also struck out five, Nathan Pisio tossed a scoreless ninth.
The Giants had a pair of hits from Jason Avila, Kieta Fujino and Joey Hecker scored their only runs.
Mark Tor was the losing pitcher after allowing three runs on five hits over the first 4 ⅓.
Lethbridge 10, Saskatoon 8
Saskatoon appeared to take control of the game when a six-run fourth inning gave them a 6-1 lead, but Lethbridge came all the way back with five the next frame, and the two teams would end up tied 8-8 through nine.
Lethbridge’s Kalem Heaney then knocked home Jordan Munroe and Tetsu Nishida with the go-ahead runs in the top of the 10th, and Lucas Huynh struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.
Brock Laird was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI for Saskatoon, while Gavin Panks was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Nash Nichols went 2-for-4 with a round tripper and three runs.
Cardel DIck had a home run as one of his two hits for Lethbridge and knocked in three, Haney also scored two runs to go with his two RBI. Will Turner knocked in a pair, Nishida scored two runs.
Shaye McTavish started and took a no decision after allowing six runs on five hits over four innings.
Adam Korte started for Saskatoon and allowed a run on three hits over four innings, Wesley Shackleford took the loss after giving up the two runs in the 10th during his third inning of relief.
Swift Current 9, Energy City 8
The Cactus Rats led 8-1 through four innings, but the 57’s rallied with four runs in the fifth before completing the comeback with a three-run ninth inning.
Jake Hiromoto had the big hit in the frame, belting a three-run home run that scored Hudson Unger and Hunter Fujimoto with the tying runs.
Hiromoto finished 2-for-5 with four RBI, while Unger also hit a home run and was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Fujimoto also crossed the plate twice.
Zach DeSylva had a decent outing on the mound while taking the no decision, giving up four earned runs on 12 hits over six innings and striking out five. Brody Nanini finished things off and earned the win, allowing two hits over the final four innings.
Dan Kawanishi went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI for Energy City, Luke Wilson knocked in a pair, Hikaru Ikeda was 3-for-5 with two runs. Sonoske Nakajima also scored a pair of runs.
Kingston Besujin started for Energy City and allowed five runs, one earned, on six hits over five innings. Derek Apa gave up the winning run in the 10th and was the losing pitcher.
Regina 9, Brooks 7
The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the second inning and led 4-2 through four when Brooks scored four in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. The Red Sox came right back with a pair of runs in the fifth to tie the game, and after the Bombers went up 7-6 in the top of the eighth, Regina would finish things off with three in the eighth.
Jalen Meyers and Will Togher had the big hits for the Red Sox in the penultimate inning, with Meyers doubling home Lance Anderson to tie the game and Togher hitting a double to bring home Meyer and Justin Simard with insurance runs.
Raine Kreklewetz went 2-for-2 with three walks and three RBI; Simard, Meyers and Jake Fowler all scored two runs each.
Samuel Jackson started for Regina and allowed six runs on nine hits over 4 ⅓, Daniel Crabtree finished things off and was the winning pitcher after giving up a single unearned run and striking out six.
Erick Ballenilla had a 3-for-5 outing and included a home run, two runs scored and three RBI, Maverick McAllister was 3-for-5 with a run.
Alex Keinberger allowed six runs, five earned, on eight hits over four innings for Brooks, Raul Romero tossed two shutout innings of relief but took the loss after allowing the three runs in the eighth.
Up Next
All five Saskatchewan teams are in action Thursday, with Saskatoon at Medicine Hat (6:45 p.m.), Fort McMurray at Swift Current (6:57 p.m.), Energy City at Moose Jaw (7:05 p.m.), Lethbridge at Regina (7:05 p.m.) and Brooks at Weyburn (7:05 p.m.)
