MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- As the old saying goes, turnabout is fair play.
The Moose Jaw Miller Express overcame a 6-0 first-inning deficit and later rallied with six runs over the final two innings to take a 14-11 victory over the Medicine Hat Mavericks in Western Canadian Baseball League in Medicine Hat on Saturday night.
It was almost the exact opposite of the previous game between the two teams, which saw the Mavericks put up nine runs in the final three innings to take a one-run win.
Moose Jaw is now 21-17 on the season to sit five games back of the first-place Regina Red Sox and two games back of the second-place Mavericks.
As well as things turned out, it was a tough start for the local squad, as Medicine Hat batted through their order in the first inning to build their 6-0 edge. The Express started their first comeback with three runs in the third to trail 8-3 before adding four more in the fourth and another in the fifth to tie the game 8-8.
The Mavericks regained the lead with three in the seventh before Moose Jaw put everything together in the final two innings, scoring three in the eighth to tie and another three in the ninth to secure the 14-11 win.
Austin Gurney had another stellar night at the plate for the Express, going 4-for-6 with a pair of runs scored, giving him nine hits in his last 12 at bats. Thomas Soto went 2-for-5 and scored four runs, while Darren Hagan was 4-for-6 with a double, three runs scored and three RBI. Bobby Pokorney also had a solid night at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.
It was a tough start on the Moose Jaw mound for Ethan Merk, as he gave up the eight early runs on 10 hits through three innings. Jacob Quiles and Jaden Canelli got the Express through the next three innings unscathed before Medicine Hat struck for three runs on two hits off Jacob Castaneda.
The back end of the Miller Express bullpen stood fast from there, though, as Takeo Cookson held the Mavericks scoreless in the eighth to earn the win and Westin Walls bounced back from giving up the lead the previous night to earn the save in the ninth.
Johnny Vulcano led the way at the plate for the Mavericks, going 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs and two RBI.
Dylan Runge started for Medicine Hat and allowed seven runs over three innings; Joshua Landry took the loss after giving up three runs in the ninth.
The Express and Mavericks are right back at it on Sunday afternoon in Medicine Hat. Next home action is Tuesday when the Regina Red Sox are in town. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
