NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Medicine Hat Mavericks first baseman Sal Rodriguez digs out a bouncing throw during his team's Western Canadian Baseball League game against the Edmonton Prospects on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at Athletic Park.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks shook off an 11-3 blowout Saturday and rallied to win a three-game set by stealing a 13-12 nailbiter from the Edmonton Prospects on Sunday at Athletic Park.
Despite allowing a six-spot in the fourth and trailing 9-4, the Mavericks dug in and struck for nine runs over the next five innings to take a lead they wouldn’t give up in the ninth.
Medicine Hat sits 9-13 with the series victory.
Mavericks reliever Flynn Ridley was credited with Sunday’s victory after striking out a pair in a clean eighth, then Jon Guardado picked up the save by holding Edmonton to a run on one hit and a walk in the ninth.
Mavericks starter Garrett Nicholson struggled early, allowing three runs on two hits in the first and being pulled after allowing the first two batters to reach base in the second.
Prospects reliever David Wylie settled for the loss after allowing the winning run on a wild pitch in the eighth.
Austin Sojka led the Mavericks with 4 RBI in a nearly unstoppable 5-for-6 showing at the dish, while Colton Wright had 2 RBI in a 1-for-4 performance.
Beaux Guilbeau had 4 RBI for the Prospects in a 2-for-4 outing.
The victory follows up a tough setback Saturday, with Mavs starter Evan Sutta taking the loss after allowing nine runs – seven earned – on eight hits with three strikeouts through 5 2/3.
Edmonton’s Hunter Boyd collected the victory after holding the Mavericks to three runs on eight hits through eight complete innings of work.
Sal Rodriguez batted in a pair in the loss, while Sojka registered Medicine Hat’s only other RBI.
Medicine Hat opened the series with a 4-3 win in 16 innings Friday. The game ended at 12:03 a.m. Saturday.
The Mavericks hit the road to Regina this evening to open a three-game set with the Red Sox (13-3).
