NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Mavericks second baseman Rock Jordan watches a fly ball into his glove during Saturday's Western Major Baseball League game against the Fort McMurray Giants at Athletic Park.
Medicine Hat News
The Fort McMurray Giants had Medicine Hat’s number Sunday afternoon at Athletic Park.
The Giants cruised an 18-6 landslide win over the Mavericks to close out a three-game set in the Gas City, but no lead could turn the series in Fort McMurray’s favour.
While the Mavericks slipped to 17-3 on the Western Major Baseball League season with Sunday’s setback, Tanner Helms had already put the series to bed with a convincing 5-1 victory on Saturday evening.
The Louisiana product came just two outs shy of a complete game performance and two batters shy of a shutout after allowing his first run of the ball game in the top of the ninth. Helms finished with a line of one run on seven hits through 8 and 1/3 innings with two walks and six strikeouts. Brady Tedesco took the mound in relief and shut down the Giants by fanning the next two batters.
Louie Canjura and Blake Rowlett both had multiple hit games for Medicine Hat on Saturday, while Canjura, Colton Wright, Jacob Leal and Caleb Longley each cashed an RBI in the win. The win followed up Medicine Hat’s 5-4 extra innings victory over the Giants on Friday.
But the Giants managed to escape with some satisfaction thanks to a near-flawless performance at the plate from first baseman Garrett Takamatsu. The Burlington, Ont. product went a staggering 4-for-4 with one walk and 5 RBI for Fort McMurray, while shortstop Max Hewitt added 4 RBI in a 3-for-6 showing at the dish.
Wright, Canjura and David Salgueiro had a strong Sundays for Medicine Hat despite the score. Wright went 3-for-4 with 1 RBI while Salgueiro chipped in with a 3-for-3 performance from the nine-hole and Canjura added 3 RBI from the leadoff spot.
Michael Carr settled for Sunday’s loss after allowing five runs on 10 hits through the first 4 and 1/3 innings.
The Mavs — now 3 and 1/2 games back of the Western Division leading Okotoks Dawgs — head to Brooks on Tuesday to take on the Bombers.
