Mavs drop ninth inning lead, lose in walk off fashion Thursday
By James Tubb on July 25, 2024.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks lost in extra innings Thursday night. The Mavs held a 3-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning and ultimately lost in the 11th, falling 4-3 to the Weyburn Beavers. Medicine Hat came into the contest off a 12-9 win Wednesday night at Athletic Park over the Regina Red Sox. Medicine Hat opened the scoring with a run in the first frame. Designated hitter Nick Thibodeau drove in a run with a hit that led to a Weyburn error for the early 1-0 lead. After two quick frames, Weyburn countered in the fourth inning with a solo home run from Ian Heck to make it a 1-1 game. The Mavs grabbed a lead with runs in back-to-back innings, leading 3-1 after seven innings. Thibodeau hit an opposite-field home run in the sixth inning, putting the Mavs ahead with his ninth of the season. They added to the lead with second baseman Marshall Burke scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh. Dylan Runge started the game for the Mavs and worked into the ninth inning. He allowed only six hits and the lone run through the first eight innings, with a walk and eight punch outs. A lead-off double in the top of the ninth ended his night, with Josh Landry taking over on the mound. The Beavers kept their foot on the pedal, scoring a run with a pinch-hit double to bring them within one. They tied the game with a score on a wild pitch to force extra innings. Medicine Hat couldn’t score the auto runner in the top of the frame. Max Hudlow came into the game and the Mavs walked the leadoff hitter to set up a double play. They fielded a bunt to third base, with Blake Dale getting the ball to shortstop Johnny Vulcano at third who rifled a throw to first base for the second out. Weyburn got a runner on base with a hit by pitch, giving them runners at first and second with two out, which Hudlow started with a groundout. The Mavs pushed in the top of the 11th. Centre fielder Brody Gardner was the auto runner and he moved up to third on an infield single from left fielder Michael Quick. Gardner tried to score on a hit to third from Vulcano, but he was thrown out at home. Weyburn turned to the bottom of the 11th looking for the win. The Mavs again walked the lead-off hitter to set up the double play that never came. The Beavers second batter, Halen Otte, barrelled a ball to left field that scored the auto runner from second base for the walk-off win. The Beavers outhit the Mavs 9-4 and committed three errors to Medicine Hat’s one. The Mavs (27-19) are back at Weyburn on Friday for a rematch with the Beavers. 16-15
