NEWS PHOTO SEAN ROONEY - Second baseman Blake Rowlett makes a throw to first base as his Medicine Hat Mavericks play the Fort McMurray Giants Friday at Athletic Park.
Medicine Hat News
It seems you can only hold down the Medicine Hat Mavericks’ bats for so long.
The Mavs came from behind to earn a 5-4, 10-inning victory over the Fort McMurray Giants Friday night, thrilling a crowd announced at 828 on a stifling evening at Athletic Park.
Down 4-0 through four innings and frustrated with the strike zone, the Mavs found a way for a fifth win in their last six games.
Blake Rowlett singled to lead off the 10th against pitcher Nicklas Cardinal and came home on Chris Rodriguez’s two-out hit to centre-field, prompting a celebratory mob.
Colton Wright had driven in Rowlett in the eighth inning to tie the game. He also had an RBI double in the sixth.
Max Hewitt and Keegan Marsden had RBI doubles in the first inning against Hat starter Connor Deeds, who settled down after a four-hit first inning to strike out six and only allow two more hits the rest of his five innings. A high throw in the fourth on a possible double play ball led to another two runs.
Reliever Barry Caine got the win. The two clubs meet again Saturday at 7:05 p.m., then Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
Fort McMurray (10-18) is now six games back of Medicine Hat (16-12) for fourth place and the last playoff spot in the Western Major Baseball League’s Western Conference.
