NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Mavericks starting pitcher Matt Brooks throws to the plate Sundays Western Major Baseball League game against the Swift Current 57s at Athletic Park.
Medicine Hat News
The Medicine Hat Mavericks celebrated Canada Day with a comeback walk-off on Sunday night at Athletic Park.
After falling into a 3-0 hole in the eighth, the Mavericks rallied to force extras then Louie Canjura connected for a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning to secure a 4-3 victory and give Medicine Hat their second 10-game winning streak of the Western Major Baseball League season.
The 57s took over a 2-0 lead on a wild pitch in the first and another in the sixth before Bo McClintock stretched the gap to three with a solo shot off Johnathon Smithey in the eighth.
Julien Ly put Medicine Hat on the board after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the home half of the frame — his fourth of five free passes in the game — then Jordan Dray followed it up with a 2 RBIsingle to even the score and set up Canjura’s walk-off.
Mavericks starting pitcher Matt Brooks was forced to settle for a no decision despite a stellar seven-inning performance. The Abbotstown, Penn. product fanned 11 hitters while holding Swift Current to just two runs on five hits , but the Mavericks were unable to generate any offence behind him.
Smithey allowed a run on three hits over the next two innings before Tyler Shumpert stepped in with a pair of clean frames to collect the extra innings victory and push Medicine Hat to 20-3.
Swift Current’s Matt Fiorini took the loss after allowing the winning run on two hits over 1 and 2/3 innings of relief work. Starter Garrett Hawkins left after holding Medicine Hat to just one hit over the first five frames. The 57s fell to 13-12.
Medicine Hat returns to Athletic Park tonight to host the Weyburn Beavers at 7:05 p.m.
