The Express used a trio of solid performances from their starting pitching to win two of three games against the Melville Millionaires in Western Canadian Baseball League action earlier this week, splitting a doubleheader with a 1-0 loss and 5-0 win on Tuesday before downing the Mills 9-1 on Wednesday.
The Express now hold a 10-8 record and sit tied with Swift Current for third place in the Eastern Division, six games back of the league-leading Weyburn Beavers and 4 ½ games up on Melville for the final playoff spot.
Millionaires 1, Express 0
Melville took advantage of a pair of walks before Tracy Warren singled home Sam Cassel with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jeff Nicolosi got the start on the mound and was impressive from the opening pitch, eventually lasting six innings and giving up only two hits while striking out four. Nathan Slobodian tossed the seventh.
Chris Paruleski was just as effective on the mound for the Millionaires, giving up two hits in four innings work before giving way to Chris Lacher, who surrendered one hit the rest of the way.
Michael Borst, Tucker Zdunich and Alex Orenczuk had the only hits for Moose Jaw.
Express 5, Millionaires 0
It was Michael Ross’ turn to shine in the second game of the doubleheader, as he went the full seven innings, giving up only five hits and striking out five to secure the complete-game win.
The Express did all their damage in the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring their five runs on four hits – including a two-run home run from Darrell Doll and a two-run single off the bat of Devon Farrell.
Both Doll and Farrell finished the game with a pair of hits.
Express 9, Millionaires 1
Wednesday night’s contest saw the Express turn in as complete a game as they’ve had this season, piling on the runs while holding Melville to only four hits in their commanding victory.
Blake Gallagher got the start on the mound and was his usual effective self, throwing seven innings and giving up a run on four hits. That was more than enough to get the job done, as the Express blew open a 1-0 game with four runs in the fifth, another in the sixth and three more in the seventh, cranking out 13 hits and taking advantage of five Melville errors in the process.
Zach Campbell went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, while Eric Marriott and Michael Borst also had two hits each. Andres Garza went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI; Orenczuk crossed the plate twice.
Reece Helland and Tyler Sheridan each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to secure the win.
The Miller Express are back in action tonight when they travel to Yorkton to face the Cardinals (1-16) before facing Weyburn for the first time on Friday night at Ross Wells Park. Game time is 7 p.m.
