Another game, another commanding win for Miller Express
Double digits again as Moose Jaw takes 16-8 win over Yorkton Cardinals
Six runs in the second, seven runs in the third and that was about all the Moose Jaw Miller Express needed on Sunday afternoon against the Yorkton Cardinals.
The Express pounded out 14 hits and built a 13-4 lead through three innings on their way to a 16-8 win over the Cardinals in Western Canadian Major Baseball League action at Ross Wells Park.
Moose Jaw improved to 5-1 on the season with the win, but even more impressive has been the offence – the most recent victory marked the third game this season where they’ve scored 10 or more runs and marked back-to-back nights of double digits.
“I think we’re just trying to get guys on, move ‘em over and get them in,” said Express veteran Blake Gallagher, whose second-inning home run kickstarted the most recent outburst. “Everyone is hitting really well right now so we’re going to try and keep this rolling as long as we can.”
The damage is being done throughout the line-up, too. Seven-hitter Dougie DelaCruz was one of the team’s top offensive performers against Yorkton, going 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs and boosting his average to .385 on the season. And that’s not taking into account the team’s overall power, as Tucker Zdunich became the fourth Express hitter with a home run through the first six games after his seventh-inning round-tripper.
“It’s one-through-nine, everyone can do it, so we’re just trying to get baserunners on so when we do hit those bombs there are a couple of RBIs there,” Gallagher said.
If there is one concern, it’s that the team’s runs against are also a touch high, with two games seeing eight opponent runs cross the plate, one of which resulted in their only loss this season.
“Guys are just kind of getting back into the swing of things pitching and throwing so once we get a couple of games under our belt I’m sure we’ll be fine,” said Gallagher.
As could be expected with such a lofty run total, there were plenty of offensive standouts on Sunday.
Darrell Doll went two 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI and three walks – of which the Yorkton pitchers gave up 13 on the day. Zdunich also crossed the plate three times and walked three times, while Geordie McDougall was 2-for-5 with three RBI.
On the mound, Matt Jackson got the start and went three innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits. Tyler Sheridan gave up two runs on four walks despite not giving up a hit; Michael Ross tossed two innings and surrendered a pair of runs on two hits.
Nathan Slobodian, Chris Warken and Jack Gamba had an inning of relief each and held Yorkton scoreless the rest of the way.
Phil Whelan was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI and a home run for the Cardinals.
Payton Harris took the loss on the mound, giving up nine runs on five hits and seven walks in 2 2/3rds innings work.
The Express are back in action Tuesday when they host Melville, kicking off a stretch of five games in five nights. Game time is 7 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
