NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN - Medicine Hat Mavericks' John Velasco slides safely into third while Edmonton Prospects third baseman Edgar Harrell attempts to make the catch and tag during a Western Canadian Baseball League game at Athletic Park on Friday.
After snapping an eight-game slide with a rain-shortened victory over the Lethbridge Bulls Thursday, the Medicine Hat Mavericks made up for the lost innings in a marathon matchup against the Edmonton Prospects on Friday at Athletic Park – though they were unable to settle the score before press time.
Mavericks designated hitter John Velasco finally ended the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 16th, securing a 4-3 victory for Medicine Hat three minutes past midnight.
Derek Eubanks collected the victory after holding Edmonton off the board for six consecutive innings of relief work, allowing six hits and striking out four in the span.
Zac Harrington took the loss after allowing the winning run and five hits over the last 3 2/3 innings.
Medicine Hat managed to get the tying run to within 90 feet of home in the 12th following a lead-off double from Collin Klingensmith, but Prospects reliever David Wylie managed to escape the danger and keep the game alive.
The Mavericks again pressured for the victory in the 13th – loading up the bases with one out – but this time Harrington held the door shut to push the game past the four-hour mark.
Mavericks third baseman Austin Sojka gave the crowd something to cheer about early when he and starting pitcher Owen Steele pulled off a hidden ball trick after a one-out single from Travis Hunt moved Brendan Luther to third in the first. Luther was nabbed as he led off from third, then Hunt was thrown out trying to steal second on the next pitch, ending the inning.
Cameron Pope broke through in the second with an RBI single to drive in John Velasco and give Medicine Hat an early lead.
The Prospects pushed back in the third to tie the game on an RBI single from Hunt, then Eric Craine added another RBI single in the fifth to give Edmonton their first lead of the night.
Mavericks catcher Colton Wright responded with a two-run bomb in the eighth inning to put the pressure back onto the Prospects, but Edmonton again rallied on a ninth-inning RBI sac fly from Pierce Blohowiak to force extras.
Steele left after six innings of work, holding Edmonton to two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts.
Prospects starter Trever Berg left after allowing just one run on six hits through five innings.
The Mavericks and Prospects complete a three-game set at Athletic Park this weekend with matchups Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
