Mavs win Sunday against first place Dawgs

By James Tubb on July 23, 2023.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks took down the WCBL’s best Sunday afternoon.

The Mavs won 4-2 at Okotoks against the Dawgs for their first win of the season against the first place team in the league. Medicine Hat entered the contest off a 13th inning 10-9 loss Friday at Swift Current against the 57’s.

The Dawgs opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning before the Mavs got on the board with a lead in the second.

Medicine Hat product Tory Nelson drove in two runs with a two-out double and a 2-1 lead for Medicine Hat. That lead stuck until the sixth inning until Okotoks clawed across a run to tie the game up at 2-2.

Mavs’ starter Dylan Esquival worked an efficient afternoon on the mound, allowing the two runs (one earned) on seven hits while walking two and striking out four. He stranded the bases loaded in seventh inning to conserve the Mavs’ lead.

The Mavs took the lead in the top of the eighth inning on a bases loaded walk from right fielder Max Valdez. First baseman Andrew Savage was the next batter up and he beat out a double play ground ball to drive in the second run of the frame, putting Medicine Hat ahead 4-2.

Edrian Rangel took the mound to start the eighth inning and after recording a double play, stranded another Okotoks’ bases loaded scenario to hold the 4-2 lead. He worked a much cleaner ninth inning, getting three outs on 16 pitches for the win.

The Mavs were outhit 9-4 by the Dawgs but were able to further capitalize on runners in scoring position. Okotoks stranded 10 runners to the Mavs six.

The Mavs (22-23) are off Monday before they head to Swift Current on Tuesday for a doubleheader against the 57’s. Medicine Hat was supposed to play Swift Current on Saturday but the game was postponed and rescheduled as a doubleheader due to a hail storm.

 

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