NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks' catcher Dominic VanDoorne swipes to apply a tage in the fifth inning of the Mavs 5-1 loss Wednesday at Athletic Park against the Fort McMurray Giants.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks didn’t make their fans sit around long for their loss Wednesday.
The Mavs lost 5-1 against the Fort McMurray Giants at Athletic Park in their quickest game of the season, totalling 2:13. Medicine Hat came into the contest off a split doubleheader at Swift Current on Tuesday against the 57’s. Medicine Hat won the first game 6-1 before dropping the second contest 10-5.
“That was pretty good baseball game,” Mavs’ head coach Kevin Mitchell said. “We hit the ball pretty hard but they had a really good pitcher on the mound. And in a tight ballgame, it’s little stuff that’s going to make the difference. We made a couple little mistakes and gave some of their guys a little more credit than they deserved and it cost us. So it’s a frustrating loss, but nothing to get too worked up about.”
The Mavs were first on the board with their only run of the game. Right fielder Brady Bean hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, his team leading sixth home run of the season, for the early 1-0 lead.
Fort McMurray picked up two runs in the top of the third before the game went scoreless for three frames. The Giants added a run in the seventh before plating two runs in the top of the ninth for a final 5-1 lead.
Mitchell says his team was very much into the game as starter Zac Robinson grinded through his start but the Mavs just couldn’t add to their early offence.
“Brady Bean in the first inning coming out with that home run setting the tone was awesome, we just weren’t able to add on to it obviously,” Mitchell said. “It’s tough to do, win and only score one but the guys were fairly engaged tonight. Max Valdez swung a great bat tonight but got really nothing to show for it. A couple of other guys as well hard hit ground balls right back at guys. It was that kind of a loss.”
Robinson worked five innings on the mound with one strikeout while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. Kyle Calzadiaz took over and pitched two innings while striking out two and allowing one run on two hits. The final two innings were covered by Tim Carlson who also picked up two strikeouts, while allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk.
The Mavs (23-25) are off Thursday before heading to Lethbridge on Friday to face the Bulls. Their next home action is Saturday when they host the Weyburn Beavers for the first of a two game set at Athletic Park.
Editors note: An earlier version of the story’s headline claimed the Mavs’ game was on Thursday, it was played Wednesday.
