Mavs cap off weekend in winning fashion, set up doubleheader Tuesday

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 25, 2023.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Medicine Hat Mavericks ended their weekend on a high note.

The Mavs took down the Western Canadian Baseball League’s top talent, winning 4-2 at Okotoks against the Dawgs on Sunday. Medicine Hat entered that contest off a 13-inning, 10-9 loss at Swift Current on Friday against the 57’s.

The Mavs were set for a rematch at Swift Current on Saturday but that game was postponed due to a hailstorm that settled in and layered the field in snow-like conditions before the game could get underway. That contest was postponed to tonight, as the Mavs will take on the 57’s in doubleheader action. The first seven-inning game is set to start at 6:05 p.m., with the second tentatively scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

Pitching led the way for the Mavericks against Okotoks as starter Dylan Esquival worked seven innings of two-run baseball, striking out four batters to pick up the win while allowing seven hits and two walks. Edrian Rangel worked the final two innings, picking up the save after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning and working a clean, 16-pitch ninth frame.

Medicine Hat worked out of two bases loaded jams in the last three innings of the game as they fended off the Dawgs and were able to better capitalize on their offence, stranding only six runners to Okotoks’ 10. Medicine Hat product Tory Nelson opened the scoring with a two-run double in the second inning. Max Valdez drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth for the winning run that was padded by a fielder’s choice play off the bat of Andrew Savage.

Coming off the weekend, the Mavs (22-23) are 6-4 in their last 10 games and remain eight games back of the Moose Jaw Miller Express for first place in the WCBL’s East Division. They’ve bounced back from a four-loss stretch in early July to win six of their last seven.

After their doubleheader today, the Mavs host the Fort McMurray Giants at Athletic Park on Wednesday before heading to Lethbridge on Friday to face the Bulls.

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