NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks' shortstop Johnny Vulcano celebrates his eighth inning, inside the park home run in the Mavs' 11-3 win Monday at Athletic Park to take Game 1 of their semifinals series against the Regina Red Sox.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks made their presence felt to open their playoffs Monday.
The Mavs beat the Regina Red Sox 11-3 at Athletic Park to take Game 1 of their East division semifinals series. Medicine Hat can sweep the series Tuesday as they head to Regina for Game 2.
Head coach Kevin Mitchell says he couldn’t wait for the game to get started and was even happier with their result.
“Early on we we’re a little jittery which was to be expected but they settled in beautifully and played an awesome all around baseball game,” Mitchell said. “We put together great at bats, Edrian was awesome on the mound. He didn’t have his best stuff today but he was pretty un-hittable for six innings, he didn’t give up much hard contact. It feels great, the crowd was awesome, if you were going to draw it up, this is about how I would draw it up.”
Edrian Rangel started the game for the Mavs and recorded a quality start for the win, striking out six batters in his six innings of work while allowing two runs (one earned) on four walks and five hits. He gave credit to his defence for helping him get through the start and worked with himself to battle back.
“It was electric, the defence really helped me out, I didn’t have my best stuff today but I mean I pulled it together, competed and we came out with the ‘W’,” Rangel said. “I was just saying to myself, compete every pitch, adjust every pitch. I had them off balance pretty much the whole game but walks kind of killed it a little bit. In the end, we still came out on top.”
After a scoreless opening inning, the Mavs were the first team on the board with a two-run second frame. With runners on first and second base, designated hitter Tyler Vanneste laid down a bunt that was called foul due to hitting the home plate. Two pitches later, he drilled a ball into centre field for an RBI double. Catcher Dominic VanDoorne drew a walk and two pitches later right fielder Tory Nelson drove in a run on a bases loaded double play.
Regina answered back in the game in the fourth inning, scoring two runs to tie the game up at 2-2. The Mavs also scored in the third frame on an RBI double from VanDoorne to take back the lead. They didn’t surrender the lead for the rest of the game.
The Mavs padded their lead in the fifth inning on a two out, two-RBI single from first baseman Andrew Savage to lead 5-3.
Regina threatened the Mavs lead in the seventh inning as Kyle Calzadiaz took over on the mound for Rangel. After a leadoff walk and a hit batter, Calzadiaz recorded a strikeout before the Red Sox scored on a single and were pressing for more with runners on first and second with only one out. Calzadiaz registered his second strikeout of the frame before inducing a line drive to Brady Bean at second base to hold Regina to the one run.
After the seventh, Calzadiaz settled into the game and took control on the mound, recording five strikeouts while only allowing the one run on a walk and three hits in his three innings of work.
The Mavs immediately rewarded their reliever, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 8-3 lead. Shortstop Johnny Vulcano knocked in a run with a RBI single to centre field that was followed up with a RBI single from Vanneste. Nelson registered his second RBI of the night, bringing in a run with a bases loaded walk.
An inning later the Mavs kept pouring the runs on to cap off their Game 1 win. With runners on second and third, Vulcano rocketed a ball to centre field that bounced off the wall at the same time as the centre fielder, allowing the Mavs’ shortstop to register an in-the-park home run. Vulcano, who was called back to his college and will miss the rest of the playoffs, was emotional after the win.
“It’s just something that you can’t really predict as a kid, I feel so blessed and thankful right now,” Vulcano said.
The Mavs have an opportunity to sweep the East division Tuesday for the second year in a row. They also beat the Red Sox in the first two games of the 2022 semifinals before falling in three games in the East finals against the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
Game 2 Tuesday at Currie Field gets underway at 7:05 p.m. If needed, Game 3 returns to Athletic Park on Wednesday.
