MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- It stands to reason that with the talent the Moose Jaw Miller Express have on their pitching staff, it’s only a matter of time before their early-season defensive woes in the Western Canadian Baseball League begin to clear up.
Until that happens, though, they’re going to need their offence going at an exceptional clip.
After giving up double-digit run totals in their previous five games, the Express had a one-night reprieve on Tuesday with a 5-4 win over the expansion Saskatoon Berries at Ross Wells Park.
A tough final few innings on Wednesday wouldn’t see that continue, though, as the Berries took an 11-8 victory in the rematch.
As a result, Moose Jaw is now 5-5 on the campaign, but thanks to plenty of parity at the top of the East Division are only a single game back of the Regina Red Sox and Medicine Hat Mavericks, who are tied for first at 5-3.
Moose Jaw 5, Saskatoon 4
Miller Express starter Matt Vasquez gave his team what they needed on the mound to keep the Berries offence in check, and that led to Moose Jaw leading start to finish.
Vasquez allowed three runs on six hits over 5 ⅓ innings, striking out five and walking one, and by the time he left the game in the sixth, the Express had staked their veteran hurler to a 4-3 lead.
Jadon Canelli continued his solid start to the season by holding Saskatoon to a single hit over the next 1 ⅔. Takeo Cookson got through the eighth unscathed but ran into a bit of a jam in the ninth -- leading to Saskatoon getting within one on a bases-loaded wild pitch -- but he’d finish things off one batter later to earn the save.
Kolt Davis had a serviceable start for the Berries, allowing four runs, two earned on 12 hits over 4 ⅓ innings, while Colin Plain was equally effective, allowing a single run on four hits over 3 ⅔.
It was another stellar outing for Moose Jaw’s Nathan Houston at the plate, with the second-year veteran continuing his solid start to the campaign with a 5-for-5 game that boosted his average to a league-best .556.
Owen Robbins went 3-for-5 with a run for the Express, while Garrett Dennis was 3-for-4 with a run batted in.
Corey Wouters led Saskatoon with a 2-for-4 game that included a solo home run, while Bryce Campbell was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a round-tripper of his own. Brayden Morris went 3-for-4.
Saskatoon 11, Moose Jaw 8
The two teams went toe-to-toe through the first seven innings, with Moose Jaw taking a 4-1 lead out of the first, Saskatoon tying things up in the third, and the contest eventually sitting 6-6 through seven innings.
A two-run home run off the bat of McGwire Turner keyed a three-run inning for the Berries in the eighth, though, and a Carter Beck two-run shot in the ninth gave Saskatoon an 11-6 lead heading into Moose Jaw’s final at bat.
The Express picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but would get no closer.
Nate Mensik led Moose Jaw with a 3-for-4 night that included a pair of doubles, while Declan O’Hare hit a three-run home run in the first inning. Darren Hagan was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Beck had a great night at the plate for Saskatoon, going 2-for-2 with four walks to go along with his round-tripper, five runs scored and two runs batted in. Turner was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBI, while Wouters was 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBI.
Drew Sorrentino got the start for Moose Jaw and allowed four runs on three hits in three innings before Nathan Yunick allowed a single run in the fifth. Julian Gonzalez went the next three and allowed four runs on three hits and five walks, Cameron Dunn finished things off allowed two runs on two hits in the ninth.
Berries starter Elias Harrington allowed four runs on three hits over three innings before giving way to Carter Kopp, who picked up the win after going four and allowing a pair of runs on two hits. Reese Brons tossed a scoreless eighth, and Willis Simair finished things off, allowing the two runs in the ninth.
It’s a busy weekend for the Express, as they’re in Saskatoon on Thursday night, in Swift Current on Friday, host the 57’s on Saturday and are in Saskatoon on Sunday.
Keep an eye on www.wcblbaseball.com for up to date scores and stats.
