57’s chasing down home field advantage
The Swift Current 57’s battle for home field advantage in the playoffs looks like it will go down to the wire. The 57’s won four of five games last week as they passed the slumping Regina Red Sox for second in the Western Major Baseball League’s Eastern Division.
Tuesday, the 57’s used the long ball and some strong starting pitching to defeat the host Moose Jaw Miller Express 8-4 for their seventh straight win.
The 57’s jumped out to an early lead when Bo Mcclintock hit a three-run home run before an out had even been recorded in the game. Jared Binsfeld added a single to score Ethan Hunter to complete a four-run opening inning.
They added to their lead in the second inning when Ruben Rodriquez grounded out to score Nick Canas.
The 57’s added some insurance in the ninth inning with a two-run home run from Ben Komonosky. Ryan Gross added an RBI single to plate Hunter.
Isiah Campa earned the win after allowing only one hit and one run over six innings. His lone blemish was a sole home run from John Prudhom in the sixth inning.
Aaron Pugh and Spencer Koelewyn both added scoreless relief innings before the Miller Express got to Nick Hooper for three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Tommy Steier came on and got the final out to clinch the win when Ryan Gross picked off Alex Hendra-brown at first base.
Wednesday, after falling behind 3-0, the 57’s scored nine unanswered runs for their eighth consecutive win Melville.
The 57’s handed the Millionaires a 9-3 loss as their late season surge continued.
The Millionaires put three runs on the board before they made an out, capped by a Nik Pagan two-run home run in the first inning.
The 57’s cut into the lead with a run in the fourth inning and then exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Evan Pontley picked up the win after allowing five hits, one walk, and three runs over seven innings.
Lefty Jack Ferguson and Steier split the final two innings to close out the win.
Outfielder Myles Miller continued his steady production with two hits, one run scored, and four runs batted in.
Rodriquez also continued his incredible start with the 57’s. The El Paso, Texas product finished two-for-three with two walks, four runs scored, and one run batted in.
Canas also had two hits with a run scored and a RBI.
Thursday, the 57’s bats remained hot as they defeated the host Millionaires 9-4 to stretch their winning streak to nine games.
After three scoreless innings, the 57’s scored six runs in the fourth inning. They added one run in the sixth and two in the eighth for their fourth consecutive game with eight runs or more.
Brock Gilliam earned the win as he held the host team to four hits, two runs, only one that was earned, while striking out four over five innings. Pugh and Koelewyn each pitched two relief innings, allowing one unearned run apiece.
Centre-fielder Anthony Stewart led the offense from the bottom of the order with three hits, two runs scored, and one run batted in.
Leadoff man Blake Adams finished with two hits, two runs scored, and two RBI’S.
Friday, the 57’s nine-game winning streak came to an end in a 9-6 loss to the visiting Okotoks Dawgs. A rare south wind led to fireworks at Mitchell Field as the two teams combined for six home runs, but it was the Dawgs who finished with 14 hits to take the win.
Catcher Ben Komonosky went deep twice for the 57’s, including a solo home run in the second inning and a massive three-run blast in the fourth inning.
Sunday, three pitchers held the host Moose Jaw Miller Express to four hits and Adams hit two home runs in a 12-2 win. The 57’s moved into second spot in the Eastern Division with their 10th win in the past 11 games.
The 57’s jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning on two-run singles from Stewart and Rodriquez and a bases loaded walk from Canas.
Adams added a solo home run in the fourth inning. Canas also scored on a balk to make it 7-1.
Adams added his second home run of the game in the eighth inning. Keil Krumwiede added a run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch and then Komonosky scored on an error. Stewart capped the four-run inning with a two-run home run to plate Hunter, who finished the night with three hits. Stewart finished the evening with two hits, two runs scored, and four runs batted in out of the nine spot in the batting order.
Garrett Hawkins allowed only solo home runs to Brooks Benson and Ty Schindel while striking out seven over five innings in the win.
Pugh and Koelewyn each added two scoreless innings of relief for the 57’s to close out the win.
The 57’s improved to 24-18 with six games remaining in the regular season, while Moose Jaw dropped 20-22.
The 57’s will conclude the regular season with four games in as many days, beginning Thursday in Melville. They will wrap things up with home games against Yorkton on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:05 p.m. at Mitchell Field.