Mavs hold on for 11-7 win Wednesday

By James Tubb on July 31, 2024.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks return to Athletic Park on a winning note.

The Mavs held on for an 11-7 win Wednesday night at Swift Current over the 57’s. They beat the 57’s 5-3 on Tuesday, kicking off the final seven-game stretch of the regular season with a pair of victories.

The Mavs opened the scoring in a big fashion, leading 10-2 after three innings.

They kicked things off with a three-run, top of the first inning.

Designated hitter Tyler Vanneste, appearing in his first game since July 13 due to injury, hit an RBI single to right field to open the scoring. His knock was followed up by a pair of RBI singles  to right field from first baseman Nick Thibodeau and left fielder Micah Dvorak.

The Mavs added another three runs in the top of the second inning. Second baseman Marshall Burke scored on a wild pitch and Vanneste knocked his second RBI single of the night to right field. A batter later, Dvorak roped an RBI double to right field for the 6-0 lead.

Swift Current got on the board in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run in the second inning.

The Mavs responded with four runs in the top of the third. Third baseman Jaden Babiuk drove in a run with an RBI single to centre field to open the frame. He later scored on a double play RBI from centre fielder Brody Gardner. They added two more runs on a two-run triple from Thibodeau to hit the 10-run mark.

Swift Current scored in the bottom of the frame on a double to right field to make it a 10-2 game. The 57’s added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 10-4 game.

Dylan Runge started the game for the Mavs, picking up the win with five innings of work. He allowed the four runs (tow earned) on nine hits, five walks while striking out six batters. Max Hudlow took over on the bump and worked the sixth inning, allowing three runs on a three-run home run to make it a 10-7 game. Hudlow struck out a batter, allowing two hits with a walk.

Leo Woods took over on the mound to start the seventh and worked the last three innings of the game, allowing just a hit and a walk, recording six punch-outs to hold the Mavs’ lead. They rounded out the offence with a run in the top of the eighth on an error in centre field that allowed right fielder Jordan Phillips to score for the 11-7 final.

The Mavs appeared to score in the ninth on a single to left field from Phillips. Babiuk raced home and dove for the plate, well ahead of the throw, but was called out. Head coach Kevin Mitchell pleaded his case, with home plate umpire Pete Perreault and third base umpire Ron Schewchuk to no avail.

Wednesday’s win gives the Mavs a 31-20 record, surpassing the 30 wins they had in 2023. The Mavs return to Athletic Park for a two-game set against the East-division leading Regina Red Sox.

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