NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks designated hitter Max Valdez round third base in the Mavs 8-5 loss Sunday at Athletic Park against the Regina Red Sox.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks had a rough three innings Sunday afternoon.
The Mavs allowed seven runs across three innings in an 8-5 loss against the Regina Red Sox at Athletic Park. Medicine Hat entered the contest off a 12-2 loss Saturday, also at Athletic Park against the Red Sox.
Head coach Kevin Mitchell says the two losses were much different with mistakes costing the Mavs on Sunday.
“We hit a lot of balls right at guys, didn’t get many breaks and we made a couple of mistakes in big spots,” Mitchell said. “Often in games, especially against evenly matched teams, that’s what wins or loses the game. Our guys battled, they stayed together and kept their composure much better than we did last night, so I was happy to see that.”
The Mavs opened the scoring Sunday with a two-run second inning. Second baseman Johnny Vulcano knocked in a run with a RBI double and left fielder Ryan Dousett scored a run with a sacrifice fly.
Regina notched back a run in the top of the third inning before the Mavs jumped ahead on a big note.
With runners on first and second base, third baseman Nathan Tarver came to the plate and hit the third pitch he saw for a no-doubt three run, home run to right-centre field. Tarver’a third home run of the season put the Mavs ahead 5-1.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Regina took over the game while scoring in three straight frames, playing four runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Zac Robinson started the game for Medicine Hat and worked into the fifth inning before being lifted. He recorded a strikeout in his 4.2 innings of work while allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk. Dylan Weaver took over and recorded two outs across two frame while two runs (one earned) on two hits.
Kyle Calzadiaz took the ball in the sixth inning and pitched 1.2 frames with a strikeout while allowing one run and a walk. Edrian Rangel pitched the final two innings with a strikeout while only allowing one hit.
The Mavs (15-16) are back in action Monday when they host the WCBL leading Okotoks Dawgs at Athletic Park. That games gets underway at 7:05 p.m.
