NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks designated hitter Jordan PHillips yells at his dugout after hitting a two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh during the Mavs' 10-9 comeback win Friday at Athletic Park over the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
On a night Medicine Hat remembered the 2014 championship Mavericks, who made a resilient run to win the franchise’s second title, it was the 2024 team who flashed their own resiliency.
The Mavs overcame an eight-run deficit Friday, scoring nine runs in the last three innings for a 10-9, comeback win over the Moose Jaw Miller Express at Athletic Park. Head coach Kevin Mitchell was happy they could put on a show for the six returning players. He also liked the no-quit attitude he saw from the 2024 Mavs.
“We talked about this being a big series for us against a good team, so to come back in the fashion that we did tonight it was was pretty special,” Mitchell said. “I won’t say we were lifeless but you know it looked like tonight wasn’t our night until it was.
“For the guys to stay committed to their approach and to trust each other and chip away, we just chipped away in the sixths seventh and eighth innings and you just never know. This was a special one but at the same time, we have to move on for a brand new game tomorrow.”
The Mavs came into contest off a 25-6 drubbing of the Edmonton Prospects on Thursday. It looked like the Mavs were going to get a taste of that type of a loss early in Friday’s contest.
After Medicine hat opened the scoring with an RBI single from catcher Nick Thibodeau in the first inning, Moose Jaw rattled off nine straight runs for a 9-1 lead halfway through the sixth inning.
The Mavs sent three pitchers to the mound in the first six innings of the game, with Jack Novak starting the contest. He was lifted after the fifth, allowing three runs in eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
John Walsh started the sixth inning and was relieved by Josh Landry with one out and the bases loaded. The Millers utilized the soft contact they were getting off the Mavs’ pitchers, scoring six runs in the frame for their lead. Walsh was charged with four runs against on two hits with two walks. Landry allowed two unearned runs, on two hits with a walk and a punch-out.
Medicine Hat started to chip away in the bottom of the sixth, with a pair of RBI singles from centre fielder Brody Gardner and Thibodeau to make it a 9-3 game.
Leo Woods took over on the mound to start the seventh inning and worked two clean frames, allowing the comeback opportunity. He gave up four hits and a walk, escaping a bases-loaded jam in his first inning of work and two runners on in the eighth. Mitchell says they don’t have a chance for the comeback if not for his efforts.
“We had the bases loaded, nobody out in the seventh on some tough luck, like the whole game was going, and credit to that kid,” Mitchell said. “He bared down, one pitch at a time and got us out of there. Same thing in the eighth, had some traffic on but he’s got such a demeanour about him that
is impressive for for his age and who he is as a young man.
“We don’t we don’t win that game without the performance of that guy.”
The mavs continued to chip away, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 9-7 game.
Shortstop Johnny Vulcano drove in a run with an RBI triple and left fielder Michael Quick knocked him in with an RBI single. Designated hitter Jordan Phillips drove in two runs with a double and moved up to third base on an errant throw home.
After Woods worked the Mavs through the top of the eighth, the comeback was complete with three runs in the bottom of the frame for the 10-9 lead.
With the bases loaded, Quick was hit by a pitch for the first run of the inning. Second baseman Marshall Burke beat out a double play ball to get a run across and make it a 9-9 tie with two outs and a runner on first and third.
Gardner stepped up to the plate and hit a ball down the third base line that bounced off the Moose Jaw defender and allowed the winning run to score. The centre fielder says he wasn’t trying to do anything special at the plate in the big moment and attributes the comeback to how close the team is.
“We love each other and we’re fighting for each other,” Gardner said. “If we just continue to do that, I don’t know what will happen but it will be something fun.”
With a one-run lead, Woods handed the ball off to Adam Golby looking for the save. The returning Mavs pitcher recorded two quick outs before a walk and a single to fight field put the winning run on the base paths for Moose Jaw.
Golby induced a ground ball to Vulcano at short and threw his arms in the air after the final out was recorded.
Moose Jaw outhit the Mavs 17-12 and committed three errors to Medicine Hat’s two.
The Mavs (23-14) host the Millers on Saturday for the second of three games this weekend against the East division rivals at Athletic Park.
