NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN - Medicine Hat Mavericks third baseman Collin Klingensmith (10) celebrates with teammate PJ Garcia after hitting a home run to lead off his team's Western Canadian Baseball League game against the Fort McMurray Giants at Athletic Park Friday.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks held onto their one-game lead over the Lethbridge Bulls for second in the WCBL’s Western Division thanks to a 6-4 victory over the Fort McMurray Giants on Friday at Athletic Park.
The Bulls (29-24) did their part to narrow the gap with a 14-7 win over the Bombers Friday night in Brooks, but Medicine Hat refused to give them an inch in the standings.
Hat starter Owen Steele collected the victory after holding Fort Mac to three runs on five hits and two walks over the first five innings. The win puts Medicine Hat at 29-22 and Steele at 6-0.
Third baseman Collin Klingensmith started the game with a lead-off home run to left. The next inning, Freddy Walker connected for a 2 RBI double and Tito Jones scored on a passed ball.
Klingensmith struck again for an RBI double in the fourth before the Giants finally pushed back with three in the fifth on an RBI double from Cam Sanderson, a wild pitch and a sac fly from Tanner Hess.
Medicine Hat tacked on another run on a wild pitch in the seventh before returning the favour to Fort McMurray in the eighth.
Junior Pimentel closed out the game with a clean ninth.
Giants reliever Keith Manby settled for the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in the second inning.
The Giants and Mavericks return to Athletic Park to close out a three-game set Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Medicine Hat then welcomes the Bulls to Athletic Park Sunday for a 2:05 p.m. matinee.
