MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express saw a bit of the good and a bit of the bad in their Western Canadian Baseball League contest against the Saskatoon Berries on Tuesday night, but they came out on the winning side just the same.
After falling behind 7-1 through four innings, the Express rallied for five runs in the fifth and took an 9-7 lead out of the seventh inning, only for the Berries to find a way to tie the game in the eighth. There things would sit until the 10th inning, when Moose Jaw picked up a run for the 10-9 victory.
The Express improved to 13-13 with the win and are now seven games back of the Regina Red Sox for first place in the East Division.
Nathan Houston came up with the game-winning hit in the 10th, taking the second pitch he saw from Saskatoon reliever Kolt Davis for a single to score Thomas Soto from second.
Nate Mensik led Moose Jaw’s offence with a 3-for-4 night that included two doubles, two runs scored and five runs batted in. Austin Gurney was 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, while Soto crossed the plate three times.
On the mound, it was pitching by committee for the Express, as after starter Aaron Knuutila allowed four runs on three hits over the first two innings, eight relievers saw the mound the remainder of the game -- Jacob Quiles (one inning, one run, one hit), Bo Jacob Garza (one inning, two runs, two hits), Ty Thomson (⅔ inning, no runs, no hits), Julian Gonzalez (1 ⅓ innings, no runs no hits), Drew Sorrentino (one inning, no runs, one hit), Jacob Castaneda (one inning, two runs, two hits), Westin Wallis (one inning, no runs, two hits) and Jadon Canelli (one inning, no runs, no hits).
All told, the Miller Express pitching staff would strike out 13 and walk 10.
E.J. Miramontes started for Saskatoon and allowed six runs on eight hits. Gage Driskell and Tyler Davis saw action in relief before Davis pitched the 10th.
McGwire Turner was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored for Saskatoon, Carter Beck was 2-for-3 with four runs scored.
The Miller Express are back in action Thursday when the Swift Current 57’s are in town. Game time is 7 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
