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Chalk up an impressive Lethbridge Bulls comeback that fell just short. The Bulls were edged 7-6 by the Okotoks Dawgs in Western Major Baseball League play Wednesday night at Spitz Stadium.
What looked like a bleak night at the plate for the hosts with the Dawgs leading 6-0 into the eighth inning, holding Lethbridge to four hits at that point, turned exciting late and had anyone leaving early kicking themselves.
Bulls centre fielder Hank Forrest hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut Okotoks lead to 6-3 before teammate Jesse Hilyard followed in the ninth, sending a two-out, threerun shot over the leftfield fence to knot things up at 6-6 to force extra innings.
But the storybook ending wasn’t in the cards for the Bulls as the Dawgs plated the winning run in the 10th to escape with the win, while the Bulls fall to 19-25.
The Dawgs took a 2-0 lead after the first when Collin Ridout singled to lead off and scored on an error to second and Eddie Sanchez plated the second run on an attempted pick off at second after Okotoks Richard Mascarenas struck out swinging.
The Dawgs threatened in the top of the third and fourth, but Bulls starting pitcher Bryce Oriold-Fraser managed to keep the score at 2-0.
The Dawgs went up 3-0 in the sixth and added three more in the seventh to make it 6-0.
Just when it looked like the Bulls would leave with a whimper, the bats came to life late, keyed by homers by Forrest and Hilyard.
However, another spirited comeback wasn’t in the cards for the Bulls as the Dawgs brought the winning run in their half of the 10th on an RBI single by Eddie Sanchez. The Dawgs outhit the Bulls 13-10. The bottom of Lethbridge’s order led the way as Hilyard, hitting ninth, went 2-for-4 with a homer, one run scored and three RBI, while Blake MacDonald and Carter Witbeck were each 2-for-4 with one run scored. Kaleb Warden was 2for-5 in the three-spot for the Bulls.
Forrest’s three RBI give him 21 on the season, while Hilyard has 16. Their home runs were the third of the year for both.
Bulls closer Chris Stodolka took the loss, tossing two innings and giving up one run on two hits, walking one and striking out three.
Oriold-Fraser worked six innings, surrendering three runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out four.
Okotoks reliever Craig Smith took the win for the Dawgs, pitching the ninth and giving up three runs on four hits.
The Bulls continue their homestand tonight and Friday against the Edmonton Prospects, who dropped a doubleheader 9-4 and 6-1 to the Medicine Hat Mavericks Wednesday in Medicine Hat. Game time is 7 p.m. both nights.
The Bulls are one game back of the 19-23 Prospects for third place in the Western Division.
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