SASKATOON -- When you’re hot, you’re hot, and the Saskatoon Berries are most definitely that in Western Canadian Baseball League action as of late.
The Berries rattled off their ninth straight win in walk-off fashion on Wednesday night, taking an 8-7 extra-inning victory over the Moose Jaw Miller Express in Saskatoon. It was also a good night for the Regina Red Sox, who moved two points clear of Moose Jaw in second place in the East Division thanks to 9-0 and 6-1 win over the Swift Current 57’s in Saskatoon.
Saskatoon 8, Moose Jaw 7
Evan Janner came up with the big hit for the Berries, knocking home Mason Roell with the winning run in the 10th inning.
That the game even got to that point was the result of a comeback in the ninth, as Ethan Menard and Nomar Prieto scored runs to tie the game and overcome a two-run deficit. Moose Jaw had taken a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning thanks to a five-run outbreak and then added an insurance run in the eighth.
Menard finished his day 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Bailyn Sorensen had his 11th double of the season as one of his two hits.
Austin Gurney was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs for Moose Jaw, Gustavo Soto also crossed the plate twice.
Michael Sall started for the Berries and allowed six runs, five earned, over 4 ⅓ innings. Colin Plain picked up the win after tossing a scoreless 10th.
Rodolfo Guariola got the start for Moose Jaw and gave up five runs, four earned on seven hits over five innings. Nathan Pisio pitched the final 1 ⅔ innings and absorbed the loss.
Saskatoon improves to a WCBL-best 23-3, while Moose Jaw falls to 12-15 to sit fourth in the East Division.
Regina 9, Saskatoon 0
Regina did all their damage in the first three innings, scoring two in the first, six in the second and one more in the third.
That was more than enough offence for Red Sox starter Chris Spry, who would pitch a complete game shutout, allowing only four hits while striking out six and walking four to secure the victory.
Broderick Bornstein took the loss, giving up the first eight runs on two hits and four walks.
Rafael Jackson led Regina’s offence with a 2-for-5 night that included a home runs, two runs scored and two RBI. Jaden Collura also had a pair of hits, Jacob Steele crossed the plate twice.
Gus Koehn, Wilmer Henriquez, Luis Ayala and David Jinks had one hit apiece for Swift Current.
Regina 6, Saskatoon 1
While not as big an offensive outburst, it was another quick start that made the difference in game two of the twinbill, this time with Regina scoring twice in each of the first three innings for a 6-0 lead.
Regina’s Nicolas Yard was arguably even better than Spry in the nightcap, holding the 57’s to a single unearned run on two hits while picking up the complete game win. He’d finish with eight strikeouts and two walks, facing only four batters over the minimum.
Jackson hit a home run for the second time in as many games, while Justin Tucker was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
Justin Puello pitched the first two innings for Swift Current and took the loss, Luke Reasor had a solid showing in relief, giving up only two runs in four innings of work.
Henriquez and Casey Prychak had the only hits for the 57’s
Regina improves 14-13 and are now two games clear of Moose Jaw for third place in the East, Swift Current falls to 6-23 and remain in sixth.
