MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express have endured more than their fair share of comeback losses this season, but what they went through against the Regina Red Sox on Saturday night was tougher than most.
Despite building a 7-5 lead through the fifth inning in Regina, the Express would once again be unable to make it stick, giving up six in the sixth inning and seeing their bats fall silent from there on their way to an 11-7 loss in Western Canadian Baseball League action.
The defeat carried an extra sting in that it officially clinches the Trans Canada Clash season series for Regina, who now have a 5-2 series lead with one game remaining.
Moose Jaw is now 25-24 on the season to sit a half game back of the Saskatoon Berries for third place in the East Division and 3 ½ games back of Medicine Hat for second with seven games remaining in the regular season.
Things were close early between the two teams, but Moose Jaw looked to take control of things after scoring a pair of runs in the fifth inning for a 7-5 lead. Regina answered back and then some the next inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs on three hits and a pair of errors.
Defensive miscues played a key factor on the night, with Express starter Ethan Merk taking the hardest hit -- only two of the seven runs he allowed over five innings were earned. Julian Gonzalez took over in the sixth and left mid-at bat to Kody Hanna with two outs, and Matt Vasquez was unable to stop the bleeding, with a three-run double off the bat of Brady Bye acting as the big hit of the inning.
Drew Sorrentino then finished things off, giving up a single hit over the final two innings.
As well as things went for the Express off Regina starter Garrett Klein -- seven runs on 10 hits over 4 ⅓ -- they were unable to get anything going off the Sox bullpen. Ayden Page allowed three hits and no runs over 2 ⅔, Zander Oudie-Senger didn’t allow a hit over the final two innings.
Nate Houston led Moose Jaw at the plate with a 3-for-5 night that included a run and RBI, while Declan O’Hare was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Thomas Soto and Robert Estrada each knocked in a pair.
Hanna, Jackson Syring and Glenn Noronha each crossed the plate twice for Regina.
The two teams will meet each other for the final time this season on Tuesday night at Ross Wells Park. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
