Millers Edge Red Sox In Extra Innings

Moose Jaw and Regina renewed their WMBL Trans Canada rivalry Wednesday in the Queen City. The Millers led 10-3 late, Regina was able to score three in the eighth and four in the ninth to force extra innings. The Express were able to manufacture a run in the thirteenth and went on to the 11-10 win.

Moose Jaw was sat down 1-2-3 to open the game, while in the home half of the first inning Regina second baseman Dylan Blaha reached on an error and then later scored to give the Red Sox an early lead.

The Millers were able to respond in the top of the second when they exploded for five runs. Catcher Andrew Solomon and designated hitter Dylan Hanson both walked to put runners at first and second with one out. An error by the Regina shortstop allowed Aiden Stinnett to reach to load the bases.

Local product Brennan Reidy hit in to a fielder’s choice, the Red Sox were able to get Solomon at home on the forced play for the second out. A two-out two run single by Brady Rogers scored Hanson from third and then center fielder Danny Lokesak walked with the bases loaded to bring in Stinnett. After a wild pitch scored Reidy from third, Austin Russell ripped a single to allow Rogers and Lokesak to touch home. Moose Jaw was able to bring in the five runs on three hits and one Regina error, they also left two stranded on the base pads.

The Red Sox were able to cut in to the Millers lead in their half of the second, two more Miller errors along with a pair of Red Sox hits knocked in two more runs to make it 5-3 Moose Jaw after two.

With two out in the bottom of the fourth inning the Red Sox were pressing with runners at first and second and two out for third baseman Brandon Vaughn. Vaughn ripped the ball to right field but was robbed by Miles Hunter who made a highlight reel catch to end the inning.

The sixth inning opened for the Millers with Austin Russell reaching due to an error by the shortstop. Miles Hunter then flew out to centre field, Ben Douglas advanced Russell to second on a dribbler back to the pitcher.

With two out and a runner at second, catcher Andrew Solomon dug in to the batter’s box and ripped a double to score Russell to make it 6-3 through four and a half innings. Regina pressured in their half of the inning, with two-outs and bases loaded Strasbourg product Jordan Schulz flew out to center fielder Danny Lokesak, keeping Moose Jaw up by three.

Moose Jaw went down in order in the sixth, while Regina attacked once again putting runners at first and second but with two out Pearce Richardson struck out to end the inning.

Donny Lokesak led off Moose Jaw’s seventh inning with a single, Austin Russell was then hit by a pitch, and then Miles Hunter walked on four pitches to load the bases with none out. That marked the end for Regina starter Denver Diefenbach, as Tyler Shumpert came out of the bullpen to face Moose Jaw product Ben Douglas.

Douglas went down swinging for the first out, bringing up Solomon with the bases still loaded and one out. On a 1-2 count the Millers catcher ripped a bases clearing triple to make it 9-3, he would then touch home on a sacrifice fly from Dylan Hanson to make it a seven run game after six and a half innings.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh Regina’s Hans Ask took a walk, but was stranded on the base pads after Greg Rogers flew out to right field and Jordan Schulz struck out to end the seventh.

Moose Jaw went down quickly in the eighth and remained up by seven. Regina left fielder Rob Hogenkamp led the inning off with a walk and then moved over to second on a wild pitch. Dylan Blaha placed a bloop single in to left centre field to put runners on the corners for the Red Sox with none out.

Brandon Vaughn was able to bring in Hogenkamp on a sacrifice fly to centre field to make it a 10-4 game. Steve Hazel followed that with a triple that scored Blaha to make it a five run game. Pearce Richardson ripped a hot shot to Millers shortstop Brady Rogers, he elected to throw to first for the second out, allowing Hazel to score to make it 10-6.

Regina kept the Millers on their heels in the eighth, with two out Alex Pacheco walked and then moved over to second after Hans Ask was hit by a pitch. Millers Head Coach Michael went to the bullpen, replacing Tanner Spencer with Josh Janzen who was able to get Greg Rogers to ground out to end the eighth with Moose Jaw leading 10-6.

Hunter opened the Millers ninth inning with a groundout to the shortstop, Ben Douglas was able to follow that up with a single through the right side of the infield. Douglas moved up to second after Solomon hit in to a fielder’s choice. Derek Cornell pinch hit for DH Dylan Hanson, his groundout to the shortstop strand Douglas on the base pads to end Moose Jaw’s ninth inning.

Jordan Schulz was hit by Janzen to lead off the bottom of the ninth for Regina. Hogenkamp bounced a hot shot to third, Aiden Stinnett fielded the ball but his throw to second pulled Brennan Reidy off the bag, giving the Red Sox runners at first and second with none out.

Janzen struck out Dylan Blaha on three pitches to record the first out of the inning. Brandon Vaughn line a shot past Stinnett at third, scoring Schulz from second, making it a three run game. Steve Hazel belted an RBI double to right field, scoring Hogenkamp making it 10-8 with runners at second and third with one out.

Once again the Millers looked to their bullpen as Jason Renner took the ball looking to close the game. The first batter he faced was Pearce Richardson, who struck out on three pitches, bringing up Anthony Pacheco with the tying run sitting at second. The center fielder swung on the first pitch from Renner, lifting the ball to leftfield, scoring two runs to tie the game at ten.

Renner was able to strike out Ask to end the ninth but the damage was already done, the Red Sox were able to score four runs on two hits, capitalizing on one Miller error, sending the game into extra innings.

Both teams went down in order in the tenth inning which kept extra innings going under the lights of Currie Field.

Danny Lokesak opened Moose Jaw’s eleventh with a bloop single over second base. Austin Russell was able to move Lokesak in to scoring position after hitting a comebacker to the pitcher who recorded the out at first. Miles Hunter grounded out to second for the second out, on the play Lokesak moved to third.

Regina intentionally walked Ben Douglas, as they elected to pitch to Andrew Solomon with runners on the corners with two out. Solomon was patient at the plate, receiving a four pitch walk to load the bases for designated hitter Derek Cornell. Cornell struck out to end the eleventh, the Millers weren’t able to capitalize on their bases loaded situation.

Jason Renner continued to work for the Millers in the eleventh inning, he was able to strike out one and forced two fly balls, as extra innings continued, moving the game in to the twelfth inning.

Aiden Stinnett came out swinging in Moose Jaw’s half of the twelfth, lining a single to left-center field to lead off the inning. Brennan Reidy failed to get a sacrifice bunt down and eventually struck out for the innings first out.

Brady Rogers walked on four pitches, putting runners at first and second with one out for Danny Lokesak. During the at bat Stinnett and Rogers executed a double steal to move runners to second and third. Lokesak worked the count full but was rung up on a low pitch as he become the second out. Austin Russell dribbled a ball to the shortstop to end the Millers innings, stranding two runners in scoring position.

Moose Jaw went back to the bullpen in the bottom half of the inning, sending out opening day starter Terry McNabb. The Davidson product worked quickly, he threw nine pitches, striking out the side, propelling the contest in to the thirteenth.

2013 WMBL Canadian Rookie of the Year Miles Hunter put the ball on the grass to open the inning, notching a leadoff bunt single. During Ben Douglas’ at bat, Hunter stole second to move in to scoring position with none out. Douglas singled to left field on the next pitch to put runners on the corners.

Andrew Solomon swung on the first pitch, the Red Sox were able to get Douglas at second while Solomon reached first. The key to the play was that Hunter was able to score from third to give Moose Jaw the lead.

Derek Cornell was the second out of the inning, fouling out to the first baseman. Stinnett struck out to end the inning, but the Millers came out of the top of the inning with a one-run lead.

Terry McNabb opened the bottom of the inning with a Greg Rogers flying out to right field. He then sat down Jordan Schulz on strikes for the second out. Hogenkamp doubled with two out to move in to scoring position for Dylan Blaha. Regina’s second baseman was able to single to left field, but Hogenkamp wasn’t able to advance.

With runners at first and second and two out, Millers pitcher squared off against Brandon Vaughn. On the second pitch of the at bat Vaughn popped up to the third baseman who made the final out, as Moose Jaw held on for the 11-10 win.

Andrew Solomon led the Millers offense, he was 2-for-5 at the plate with five RBI’s, which included the game winning run. Danny Lokesak was 2-for-6 with an RBI and run scored; Miles Hunter was 2-for-6 with two runs scored, including the game winning run; Ben Douglas was 2-for-5; Austin Russell was 1-for-6 with two RBI’s and two runs scored.

Starter Todd Leavitt picked up the no decision, allowing three runs (none earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking four over four innings. Tanner Spencer allowed three runs on two hits while walking four and striking out two over 2 2/3 innings. Josh Janzen allowed four runs on one hit in 2/3 innings. Jason Renner went 2 2/3 innings scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing one hit. Terry McNabb picked up the win, he pitched two scoreless innings and struck out four batters.

There’s not rest for the Millers, they’re back at home Thursday where they’ll open a two-game series against the Edmonton Prospects, first pitch is at 7pm at Ross Wells Park.