NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher Diego Centella celebrates one of the 13 straight outs he recorded out of the bullpen as part of a 9-7, comeback win Friday at Athletic Park over the Regina Red Sox.
Medicine Hat News
It’s a good thing there’s no fire ban in the city of Medicine Hat with the sparks the Mavericks lit Friday night.
The Mavs fell behind 7-0 to the Regina Red Sox through three and a half innings, a night after losing 6-5 in the 10th inning to the same East division foe. They clubbed together some hits, like cavemen did with rocks, and scored nine unanswered runs across five innings for a 9-7 comeback win.
All nine batters in the lineup collected a hit, four tallied three base knocks and reliever Diego Centella surrendered just one base runner in 4.2 shutout innings to allow the comeback fire to ignite.
Head coach Johnathon Thornhill liked how his team handled the adversity falling behind, staying in the game long enough to complete the comeback.
“Diego comes in as a spark on the mound, lots of guys were sparks at the plate and the energy was good in the dugout all throughout,” Thornhill said.
Centella’s outing was more workload than he had at school this spring with Ottawa University in Kansas. The Panama City product was focused on just getting outs when he came into the game, enjoying each pitch.
“I pitched Tuesday, and then today saying, today is not the date to be thrown hard but I just have to trust every single pitch that I had and throw with a purpose, not just throwing for throwing,” Centella said. “That’s one of my best outings so far and it’s just a moment where guys in the dugout are cheering you up, the fans are staying there and I’m super grateful that everybody stayed in the game. That’s why I was most proud of, every single guy after that, I was just, thank you for staying in the game.”
After a quick first inning, Regina’s offence kicked into motion scoring three runs in the top of the second. They were led by a solo home from Jalen Seward, his second home run of the two-game stint at Athletic Park. Regina scored another run on a wild pitch and a groundout.
The Red Sox put four runs across in the fourth, chasing starer Tyler Spruill (3.1 IP, 5H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 2K) and jumping on reliever Zack Hlinksy (3H, 3R) before Centella took over. He recorded 13 straight outs before allowing a two-out walk in the eighth. Thornhill visited him on the mound for a breather, allowing him to get the final out, putting himself in line for the win.
The Mavs comeback started in the bottom of the fourth, facing a seven-run mountain.
Their climb was kicked off by a two-run home run from utility man Adam Vulcano, his first long ball of the season. He drove the first pitch he saw over the centre field fence, scoring catcher Jaden Babiuk who worked a seven-pitch single to lead off the frame. It was a much needed knock for the youngest Vulcano, who finished his night with three RBIs.
” I mean, can’t ask for anything more,” Vulcano said. “It felt good, it was good. I’ve been struggling with the swing, the timing and everything, and we’ve been working with JT and (Ryan) Reid and today, it obviously felt pretty good and got rewarded.”
They put across three runs in the sixth to make it a 7-5 game.
Vulcano cashed a run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Centre fielder Jeremy Freeman Jr. roped a double to left field that scored one run and appeared to score a second as Micah Dvorak slid into home, before he was called out on the play. Thornhill disputed the call to no avail and the Mavs rebounded. Aaron Vulcano hit a double of his own, scoring Freeman Jr. to finish the inning.
The Mavs had the bases loaded in the seventh, with DH Blake Dale laying down a bunt that sent the Regina pitcher to the ground as he slipped making a play on the ball. Babiuk put a ball in play to the outfield, scoring Carter Roth from third with a sacrifice fly, one of his two RBIs on the night. The Mavs’ catcher also had three hits, scoring twice.
The final blow from the Mavs came in the eighth.
Back-to-back singles brought Roth to the plate and the MVP candidate added to his league-leading tallies, driving in a run to tie the game up at 7-7 for his 28th RBI and 48th hit, both league leaders.
With runners on the corners and one out, shortstop Johnny Vulcano hit a ground ball to the Regina third baseman who came up throwing to home, missing wide allowing the Mavs to grab an 8-7 lead. They made it 9-7 on a fielders choice groundout off Babiuk’s bat.
The Mavs made the call to the bullpen for the ninth, bringing Luke Barrientos into the game looking for the save. He recorded an out, allowed a single and induced a groundout for the second out. The Red Sox had life late with a hard knock to centre field, caught on the warning track by Freeman Jr. to secure the final out and preserve the comeback win.
Thursday’s loss showed moments of pressure rising too much for the Mavs according to Thornhill. He says Friday’s win, and the efforts in the comeback, showed how playing free can lead to success.
“That’s a very tight knit locker room there and it’s just a privilege that I get to share the dugout with them day in and day out, because they make it so much fun to show up to the ballpark,” Thornhill said.
Medicine Hat outhit Regina 19-9, both teams committed an error on the field. Infielder Tyler Vanneste returned to the lineup, missing the last four games. He had three hits, scoring once.
The Mavs (17-8) are back at Athletic Park for the weekend, hosting the WCBL-leading Saskatoon Berries for a pair of games on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) and Sunday (2:05 p.m.). Fresh off his best effort of the season, Adam Vulcano says the win gives the group confidence heading into the weekend.
“We’re feeling really good, the morale is up and we have such a cool camaraderie,” Vulcano said.
“We’re going to have some really good games against Saskatoon.”
