Mavs squash Berries in 12-4 win Friday

By James Tubb on July 5, 2024.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks turned some berries into a bloated win Friday.

The Mavs put up 12 runs on 21 hits on the road, beating the Saskatoon Berries 12-4. Medicine Hat came into the contest off an 8-2 win Thursday over the same Berries.

The Mavs opened the scoring Friday with four runs in the top of the second inning.

Shortstop Johnny Vulcano started things off with a bases-loaded single to score a run. His hit was the fourth-straight single the Mavs registered early in the frame.

Second baseman Marshall Burke beat out an infield roundball to score a run and keep the inning alive. The Mavs blew it open with a two-run double from centre fielder Brody Gardner that hopped up and over the Berries’ third baseman for a 4-0 lead.

Saskatoon also got on the board in the second inning, with a lead off solo home run to make it a 4-1 game.

The Mavs added to their lead with an RBI single from right fielder Jordan Phillips that ping-ponged off the Berries’ middle infielders gloves.

The Berries continued their offensive trend with the long ball, smacking a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Mavs lead to 5-3. It was the closest they got to tying the game up, with Medicine Hat adding to their tally in the fifth.

Left fielder Micah Dvorak knocked in a run with a double that landed near the wall in centre field. It would have been two runs scored but Vulcano was thrown out at home on a relay. Dvorak scored on a wild pitch a batter later for a 7-3 lead.

Aidan Lenzen started the contest for the Mavs and worked six innings for the win, allowing the three runs on two home runs, surrendering four other hits and he recorded six punch-outs. Brett Getz took over to start the seventh inning.

Saskatoon plated a run in the seventh frame, capitalizing on a pair of walks to score a tally on a double, making it a 7-4 game. Medicine Hat got out of the frame with a tag out on a Saskatoon runner caught between third base and home plate after a pitch.

Medicine Hat put the game out of reach with five runs scored in the eighth inning for the 12-4 final score.

Like he did earlier in the game, Vulcano started things off for the Mavs, plating two runs with a double. He moved up to third base on a throwing error. Dvorak scored him on a single four pitches later.

The Mavs loaded the bases with a walk and a single to set up Phillips who knocked a single of his own to drive in a run. Brady Bean added to the lead, scoring a run with a single of his own to cap off the five-run inning.

Getz worked through the seventh and eighth innings, finishing his night with a lone run allowed on one hit and two walks, striking out a batter.

Mavs’ catcher Nick Thibodeau pinch hit for Dvorak in the ninth and moved behind the plate in the bottom of the frame. Thibodeau has been out of the lineup since June 28 at Okotoks after getting hit by the back swing of a Dawgs hitter.

Lane McEachern took over on the mound for the Mavs to start the ninth. The only base runner he allowed was on a walk and he recorded a strikeout en route to the Mavs’ win.

Vulcano led the Mavs’ offence with four hits, driving in three RBIs and tallying two runs scored. Dvorak had two runs scored on two hits with two RBIs. The Mavs’ outhit the Berries 21-7 and left 15 runners on base to the Berries five. Saskatoon committed four errors while the Mavs were perfect on defence.

The Mavs’ are at Regina on Saturday for the first of two games against the East division leading Red Sox. They’ll face Regina on Sunday before heading to Weyburn on Monday to face the Beavers in the final contest of the five-game Saskatchewan road trip.

20
-19