Mavs push streak to 10 in extras
The Medicine Hat Mavericks celebrated Canada Day with a comeback walk-off on Sunday night at Athletic Park.
After falling into a 3-0 hole in the eighth, the Mavericks rallied to force extras then Louie Canjura connected for a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning to secure a 4-3 victory and give Medicine Hat their second 10game winning streak of the Western Major Baseball League season.
The 57s took over a 2-0 lead on a wild pitch in the first and another in the sixth before Bo McClintock stretched the gap to three with a solo shot off Johnathon Smithey in the eighth.
Julien Ly put Medicine Hat on the board after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the home half of the frame — his fourth of five free passes in the game — then Jordan Dray followed it up with a 2 RBI single to even the score and set up Canjura’s walk-off.
Mavericks starting pitcher Matt Brooks was forced to settle for a no decision despite a stellar seven-inning performance. The Abbotstown, Penn. product fanned 11 hitters while holding Swift Current to just two runs on five hits , but the Mavericks were unable to generate any offence behind him.
Smithey allowed a run on three hits over the next two innings before Tyler Shumpert stepped in with a pair of clean frames to collect the extra innings victory and push Medicine Hat to 20-3.
Swift Current’s Matt Fiorini took the loss after allowing the winning run on two hits over 1 and 2/3 innings of relief work. Starter Garrett Hawkins left after holding Medicine Hat to just one hit over the first five frames. The 57s fell to 13-12.
Medicine Hat returns to Athletic Park tonight to host the Weyburn Beavers at 7:05 p.m.