麻豆传媒

MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- Whenever the Moose Jaw Miller Express were going through their struggles this season -- be it at the plate or on the mound -- there was always a sense that if they could just find a way to get both aspects of their game going at the same time, something very interesting could happen.

And wouldn’t you know it, two games into the Western Canadian Baseball League playoffs, and something very interesting has happened.

The Miller Express stunned the East Division champion Regina Red Sox with a 7-6 victory at Ross Wells Park on Thursday night, taking a two-games-to-none sweep in their best-of-three semifinal series.

As a result, the Express will now face either the Saskatoon Berries or Medicine Hat Mavericks after the Mavs took a 3-0 win in Game 2 of their series, tying it up at a game apiece.

Much like Game 1 the night earlier, the Express wasted little time getting things going, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning.

Austin Gurney got things started with a two-out single, and one batter later, Nate Mensik launched a ball into the outfield trees for the quick 2-0 lead.

Regina got a pair back in the third inning, but Moose Jaw was able to reply in their half when Gurney knocked home Thomas Soto with a fielder’s choice ground ball, putting the Express ahead 3-2.

The Red Sox didn’t finish in first place without being able to put together a quick comeback, and they did just that the next frame, putting up three runs to take their first lead of the game. 

Moose Jaw didn’t let it last long, and retook the lead in style the very next inning.

After Bobby Pokorney reached on an error, Thomas Soto hit a single and Robert Estrada drew a walk, Gurney cleared the bases with a grand slam home run to put Moose Jaw up 7-5, much to the delight of the 757 in attendance.

The Miller Express bullpen had their struggles with Regina’s bats during the regular season, but not on Thursday. 

After Westin Walls gave his team a solid start by allowing five runs on five hits over five innings, Ethan Merk took over and limited Regina to three hits before leaving after giving up a walk in the eighth. Drew Sorrentino was unable to prevent that baserunner from scoring, but got the job done in the ninth, picking up the save and touching off a raucous celebration on the field.

Daniel Crabtree started for Regina and allowed seven runs, five earned, on five hits to go along with two walks and five strikeouts. Ty Fortin finished things off, giving up three hits over the final three innings.

Glenn Noronha had three of Regina’s nine hits on the night, crossing the plate twice and also knocking in a run.

The Express will now have a day off while they await the winner of Saskatoon and Medicine Hat, with Game 3 of that series on Friday night. The second round will begin Saturday or Sunday night at the winner of the other semifinal.