NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher Cesar Rodriguez celebrates recording a strikeout for the final out of the Mavs' 12-10 comeback win Sunday at Athletic Park over the Edmonton Prospects.
Sunday was Bark in the Park day at Athletic Park and it was the Medicine Hat Mavericks who were the real dogs of the afternoon.
The Mavs overcame 10-4 deficit in the sixth inning, scoring eight unanswered runs for a 12-10 win over the Edmonton Prospects. It’s a win head coach Kevin Mitchell says they had just enough to notch.
“After a really strong couple days up in Okotoks, a late night last night coming out and not being sharp from the jump, I’m glad the guys were able to hang in,” Mitchell said.”We answered back when they had a big inning and we came right back and put a five spot up. That makes a difference in the ballgame.
“If you go zeros there, we may not have another punch left in us for the game. So a really good battle, we did just enough and it takes what it takes, fortunately today we came out on top.”
The Mavs entered the contest off a split series at Okotoks against the Dawgs, winning 9-8 Friday and falling 6-5 in the 12th inning Saturday.
Edmonton opened the scoring in the top of the second inning with an RBI double and RBI single.
Medicine Hat appeared to get on the board in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single from Michael Quick that bounced 30 feet in the air before the Prospects’ pitcher fielded it and threw it past first base. After an Edmonton protest, the umpires ruled it a foul ball and the Mavs were held at bay.
Edmonton took the momentum in the fourth and scored three runs for a 5-0 lead.
The Mavs finally notched some runs, with Quick sending a single up the middle of the field for an RBI, making it a 5-1 Edmonton game through four innings.
Medicine Hat starter John Walsh was lifted after four innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits, with a walk and three strikeouts.
Leo Woods took over on the mound, allowing one run in the fifth and four in his two third of the sixth frame. He gave up five hits while recording three punch-outs.
After the Prospects scored in the top of the fifth to make it 6-1, Medicine Hat tallied three runs to make it a close 6-4 game.
Brody Gardner scored a run with a bases loaded, sacrifice fly and the next batter, Jordan Phillips, cleared the bases with a double.
The Prospects grew their lead with the four-spot in the sixth, leading to Cesar Rodriguez taking over and recording the final out of the inning.
Facing a 10-4 deficit, the Mavs clawed back in big fashion, putting up five runs in the frame to make it a one-run game.
Gardner drove in another run via a sacrifice fly and Phillips knocked a two-run double. A batter later, Brady Bean drove the seventh pitch he saw over the centre field fence for his first home run of the season, capping off the answer back frame for the Mavs. Bean was all smiles after the game talking about his long shot.
“It’s about time I put a good swing on it, get some backspin on a ball,” Bean said. “It feels good and more to come.”
Rodriguez held the Prospects to two hits and two walks in the last three innings to give the Mavs the chance for the win. He finished his day with three hits and two walks allowed in 3.1 innings pitched with seven strikeouts.
The Mavs took their first lead of the game in the eighth inning.
Leadoff singles from Tyler Vanneste and Bean set up Quick for a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up a base and into scoring position. Johnny Vulcano came to the plate and knocked the fourth pitch he saw into right field to bring in the tying run. After a pitching change, Micah Dvorak sent a deep fly ball to right field to score the winning run in sacrifice fashion.
The Mavs added to the lead with a single to right field from Marshall Burke, producing the final score of 12-10.
Rodriguez recorded two quick strikeouts in the top of the ninth before walking the next two batters he faced. He took just four pitches to finish off the last batter, securing the comeback win in fashion.
The Mavs outhit the Prospects 15-13 and also committed three errors to the Prospects one.
The Mavs (15-12) are back in action on Monday, hosting the Weyburn Beavers for Canada Day action at Athletic Park. Mitchell enjoys this Canada Day experience last year and is looking forward to another Canada Day at the park.
“Our jerseys are awesome, the crowd’s going to be great and I hope the weather’s nice,” Mitchell said. “It’s a blast, anytime we get to play here in front of this crowd is really incredible and I’m really excited for tomorrow night.”
