MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express put together an impressive rally against the Regina Red Sox in Western Canadian Baseball League action on Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough to find the win column.
Trailing 12-2 heading into their half of the seventh inning, the Express went on a run that would see the local squad put up 11 runs over the final two innings -- but a five-run Regina ninth would see the Red Sox get the job done, taking a 17-13 victory at Ross Wells Park.
Moose Jaw is now 25-25 on the season and remain a game back of the Saskatoon Berries for third place in the East Division with six games remaining in the regular season.
As one might expect from a game that put 30 runs on the board, there were plenty of fireworks -- Regina hit no less than five home runs on the night and the Express weren’t too far behind with four of their own.
Nate Mensik led the way for Moose Jaw with a 3-for-6 night that included a three-run home run in the eighth inning and two-run shot in the ninth. Joe Osborn hit a solo round tripper to lead off the seventh, and Marcerio Allen hit a two-run homer -- his first with the Express -- in the eighth.
Danny Gonzalez put together a 3-for-4 showing with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI, while Justin Carinci, Jalen Meyers, Kody Hanna and Jackson Romero each had round trippers of their own. Carinci capped his night by going 4-for-6 at the plate with two runs and three RBI.
Declan O’Hare started on the mound for the Express and allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings. Cameron Dunn pitched the fifth and allowed a run before Aaron Knuutilla gave up six runs on seven hits over the next three innings. Takeo Cookson attempted to shut things down in the ninth but was bit by an untimely error and ended up allowing five unearned runs while getting two outs; Julian Gonzalez finished things off.
Kade Douglas gave up six runs on 11 hits over 6 â…” for Regina, Zander Oudie-Senger only picked up two outs in the eighth while giving up five runs and Ty Fortin earned the save despite giving up two runs in the ninth.
Next up is a crucial two-game set for the Express against the Saskatoon Berries, with third place in the East Division on the line. Moose Jaw is in Saskatoon on Wednesday night before hosting the Berries on Thursday, with game time 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
