NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks’ shortstop Tyler Vanneste rounds third after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning of the Mavs’ 9-1 win Tuesday to take Game 2 of their semifinals series against the Regina Red Sox.
For the second year in a row, the Medicine Hat Mavericks ended the Regina Red Sox’ season.
The Mavs won Game 2 9-1 Tuesday at Regina to sweep their East division semifinals series 2-0, punching their ticket to the East finals. Medicine Hat outsourced Regina 20-4 in the series with an 11-3 win Monday in Game 1 at Athletic Park.
Mavs’ starter Dylan Esquival worked five innings while only allowing one hit for the win. He says the Mavs came into the game with only winning on their mind.
”We came in wanting to win, knowing we were gonna come in to win this but still expecting a battle and everybody gave it their all,” Esquival said. “The team’s been rolling so far and without the team we wouldn’t even be here, I wouldn’t even be pitching.
Esquival had six strikeouts in his five innings of work.
The Mavs offence jumped out early in the win, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Brady Bean drove in a run with an RBI double to kick off the inning before shortstop Tyler Vanneste played a trio of runs with a three-run home run.
Vanneste says he’s been waiting to get his first home run and was happy to contribute in the playoff win.
“It’s been a good group effort so far this year and all the guys are coming together here,” Vanneste said. “Everyone’s here locked in and we want to win a championship.”
After three scoreless innings, the Mavs put up another four run frame, grabbing an 8-0 lead through five innings.
Bean continued his offence in the game, knocking a three-run home run over the left field fence to pad the Mavs’ lead. Two pitches later, third baseman Nathan Tarver hit a solo home run to cap off the inning.
Regina got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a run to cut the Mavs lead to seven.
Medicine Hat re-established their eight run lead with a single marker in the seventh inning. Vanneste forced an error by the Regina shortstop to knock in a run for the 9-1 final score.
After Esquival was lifted ahead of the sixth inning, Tim Carlson took over on the mound and recorded a strikeout in his two innings of work while allowing one run on two hits with a walk.
Garrett Nicholson pitched the eighth inning, allowing a walk and a run before Matt Krall took over in the ninth. He recorded two strikeouts, not allowing a base runner to secure the win.
The Mavs will face the Moose Jaw Miller Express who beat the Swift Current 57’s in their semifinals series.
The East finals are slated to get underway Friday with Game 1 at Moose Jaw.
