Miller Express takes extra-inning win in high-scoring duel with Fort McMurray

MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM – The Moose Jaw Miller Express appears to be taking an old baseball adage to heart and then some in the early stages of the Western Canadian Baseball League season.

It doesn't matter how many runs you allow, as long as you score one more than the others.

Despite allowing 48 runs in their last four games, the Miller Express own a 2-2 record during that span, including a 12-11 extra-inning victory over the Fort McMurray Giants on Saturday at Ross Wells Park.

The hero of the evening was veteran infielder Bobby Pokorney, who brought Owen Robbins home from third base with the game-winning run in the 11th inning, improving the Miller Express' record to 4-3 on the season.

This puts Moose Jaw one game behind the Medicine Hat Mavericks, the leaders of the East Division, and half a game behind the second-place Regina Red Sox.

It looked like it would be an easy night for the Express at the start, as Moose Jaw built a 7-0 lead with a four-run third inning in the fourth inning. However, Fort McMurray was at bat in the next inning, scoring four runs and then took an 8-7 lead with four more runs in the sixth inning.

Two runs in the eighth inning gave the Giants a 10-8 lead and set the stage for the Millers' Darren Hagan, who came out big in the ninth inning when he singled home Gerritt Gulutzan and Nate Mensik. Hagan himself got to third base with the potentially game-winning run, but the Giants had to salvage it in overtime.

Each team scored a point in the 10th, leading to Pokorney's game-winning point in the 11th.

Hagan had a great night, hitting 3-for-5 with three runs and two runs batted in, while Ethan Bear continued to swing a strong bat, hitting 2-for-6, including a home run and two RBIs. Robert Estrada also had a good night, hitting 3-for-4.

Darcy Barry led Fort McMurray's offense, going 4-for-6 with two doubles and five RBIs.

Ethan Merk started for Moose Jaw and played easily through the first four innings before allowing six runs on nine hits in 5 ⅓. Julian Gonzalez allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits in the next two innings, Jadon Canelli threw two scoreless runs and Takeo Cookson finished the game by allowing a single run in the final 1 ⅔.

Trevor Syer started for Fort McMurray and allowed the first seven runs for Moose Jaw on nine hits, Phoenix Johnson threw 2 ⅔ scoreless innings, Jason Maldonado allowed four runs on five hits in four innings and Keith Manby allowed the game-winning hit in the 11th inning.

The Miller Express is back in action Sunday afternoon when the Weyburn Beavers are in town. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m.