Mavericks fall 4-3 after dramatic ninth inning

By James Tubb on July 9, 2022.

For the second night in a row, the Medicine Hat Mavericks picked up a loss on ninth inning dramatics.

The Mavericks tied the Fort McMurray Giants 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning Saturday before falling 4-3 in the bottom of the frame on a bases loaded walk.

Medicine Hat lost 5-3 Friday night in Sylvan Lake after tying the game up at 3-3 in the top half of the inning before the Gulls hit a two run, walk-off home run.

The Mavericks opened the scoring Saturday with a RBI double from designated hitter Austin Cappas to put them ahead 1-0. The offensive game was all Fort McMurray after the first as they scored in the second, third and fifth innings to lead the Mavericks 3-1.

Mavericks starter Ethan Bromley held the Giants to limited offence and kept them from putting together big innings. He picked up four strikeouts while allowing eight hits and three runs in his seven innings of work. Jack Suhai took over on the mound in the eighth and struck out one batter.

Trailing 3-1 with two outs in the top of the ninth, the Mavericks struck back. Third basemen Tory Nelson yanked a two run home run to right field that scored Cappas, who walked with one out, to tie the game up at 3-3. The home run marked Nelson’s first in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants called game. Two straight singles off Suhai put runners on first and third with no outs. The Mavericks intentionally walked the third batter of the inning to setup the force out at home.

A full count, bases loaded walk scored the winning run for Fort McMurray as they took the 4-3 victory over the Mavericks.

Medicine Hat(12-20) is back in action Sunday for a rematch with the Giants in Fort McMurray that gets underway at 2:05 p.m.