MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express have absorbed some tough losses this season, but the way things went down in Medicine Hat on Friday night had to especially sting.
The Express built a 9-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth against the Mavericks, only to see the home team rally with two runs that inning, four more in the seventh and another three in the eighth for a 10-9 victory in Western Canadian Baseball League action.
The loss knocks Moose Jaw to 20-17 on the season, 5 ½ games back of the first place Regina Red Sox and three games back of the second-place Mavericks.
Things looked great for the Express early, as they took a 3-1 lead into the sixth before sending 12 batters to the plate and putting up six runs for their substantial lead.
Moose Jaw starter Adam Christopher had held Medicine Hat in check until the bottom of the sixth, holding the Mavericks to only two hits in his second start of the season for Moose Jaw. After scoring their pair that inning, Medicine Hat would get four runs on four hits and an error in the seventh, leaving Christopher with seven runs allowed on eight hits through 6 ⅔ innings.
Jacob Castaneda then finished off the seventh before giving way to Westin Walls with a 9-7 lead. The stand-out reliever would give up runs for only the second time this season, as the Mavericks strung together three straight hits and took advantage of an untimely error to take the lead.
Moose Jaw got the tying run into scoring position in the ninth, but Adam Goldby would get out of the jam to earn the save.
Jack Novack went five innings for Medicine Hat allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings before the Express scored their six runs off relievers John Walsh and Josh Landry. Leo Woods tossed two scoreless innings as the Mavericks mounted their comeback and was the winning pitcher.
Austin Gurney had a spectacular night at the plate for Moose Jaw, going 5-for-6 with two doubles, two runs scored and a pair of RBI. Nathan Houston was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs, while Garrett Dennis and Marcerio Allen were each 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Brody Gardner scored a pair of runs and had a pair of RBI for Medicine Hat, Marshall Burke went 2-for-5 with two runs and Nick Thibodeau was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The two teams are back at it on Saturday and Sunday night in Medicine Hat. Next home action for the Miller Express is Tuesday against the Regina Red Sox. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
