NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks infielder Tyler Vanneste squares up a ball while pinch hitting in the bottom of the ninth inning in the Mavericks 7-6 loss Saturday at Athletic Park against the Lethbridge Bulls.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks were one hit away from a comeback in their home opener.
The Mavericks scored four runs in the ninth inning but ultimately fell short, losing 7-6 Saturday night at Athletic Park against the Lethbridge Bulls. Medicine Hat made a three-run comeback attempt Friday in Lethbridge with an 8-4 loss the end result.
Mavericks head coach Mark Goodman sees the two comeback attempts as something they can build off of.
“I know it wasn’t a victory on the scoreboard but I think it’s a moral victory for us not giving up the past two nights,” Goodman said. “That ball was six inches one way or the other from the game tying and honestly from there, we were about to get a dub.
“I’m just so happy the guys don’t ever give up. That’s one of the greatest things about these boys playing together that is going to make the season really good.”
The Mavericks ninth inning comeback attempt started with left fielder Brody Gardner, who drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the Bulls lead to 7-3. After a sacrifice fly from third basemen Nathan Tarver drove in another run but gave Medicine Hat two outs, designated hitter Dominic VanDoorne knocked a two-RBI double to bring the Mavericks within 7-6 of the Bulls.
Gardner notched the Mavericks run in the fifth inning with an RBI single and centre fielder Jackson Woolwine scored on a passed ball for Medicine Hat’s first inning run.
Bryce Libke started the game for the Mavericks, pitching four innings with seven strikeouts while allowing four hits and three runs scored (two earned). Dylan Esquival took over on the mound and struck out three batters in his three innings of work. Jack Suhai started the eighth inning and registered two outs before Dylan Weaver took over and recored the final four outs with a strikeout.
Medicine Hat outhit the Bulls 9-7 in the contest but had six errors on the night, something Goodman says they need to address sooner than later.
“Having six errors, it’s tough to even win a ballgame,” Goodman said. “But we were getting so much better tonight, we had nine hits and maybe should have won the ballgame. But it’s those early errors that cost you at the end.”
The Mavericks (0-2) are back in action Sunday as they host the Swift Current 57’s for a 2:05 p.m. contest at Athletic Park.
