The Yorkton Cardinals have lost their first two home games in the Western Major Baseball League, but they managed to sandwich a road win in between.
The second of the losses came Monday against visiting Moose Jaw. Yorkton had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning, only to give the Miller Express a pair in the fourth.
A lone run in the bottom of the inning knotted the score.
Moose Jaw would add one in the sixth, two in the seventh and three in the ninth, while the Cards managed only one more run in the eighth, in the 8-3 Yorkton loss.
Jeff Pool started the game and went 5.2 innings for Yorkton, scattering six hits and three runs, all of them earned, while striking out three, while being tagged for the loss.
The Cardinals did manage 12 hits, leaving 12 runners on base, while giving up eight hits, but committing five errors.
Cardinal assistant coach John McVey said the Cardinals do need to get some key hits, but added he is confident that will come. He said the team is getting used to wood bats and that takes time.
"The guys are still getting their timing down," he said.
That said Dylan Gross did have a triple, and coming off a college season batting over .340, McVey said that is a positive.
"If we can get him going it would be a big thing," said McVey.
Nick Gallipeau also drove one to the warning track, and McVey said he expects the big first baseman to generate some big offence coming off eight home runs in only 17 games at college.
"I have no doubt he'll hit," said the Cardinal coach.
As for starter Pool, McVey liked what he saw even before the game.
"He really impressed us," in a practice session, impressed enough McVey said the coaching staff felt he had to be given a shot in the starting rotation.
Road win
Sunday the Cardinals headed down Highway 10 to face the rival Melville Millionaires at Pirie Field.
Yorkton would score two in the third inning, add another two in the fifth before Melville responded with three in the sixth, which would prove the last runs of the game as Yorkton held on for a 4-3 win.
Both teams managed five hits, and committed two errors in the game.
David Toth started on the hill for the Cardinals going five innings, allowing one hit, no runs and striking out six to earn the win.
Matt Bowles struck out two in a scoreless ninth for the save.
Alex Webb took the loss as the Millionaires starter based on seven innings as starter.
Opener
In the season opener for the Cardinals, Regina visited Jubilee Park in the city.
Yorkton would out hit the defending champion Red Sox 6-4, but two errors by the Cardinals would help the visitors score a run in the sixth inning, the only runner to plate in the 1-0 final.
Steve Barnett would go seven innings as the starter for Yorkton, allowing four hits and striking out five and allowing no earned rooms.
Allan Sanchez would go eight off the mound for Regina, giving up six hits, but striking out 10 in the win.
"Their guy out there (Sanchez) just threw a great game," said McVey. "When that happens it's tough to get anything."
That said, McVey said Cardinal pitchers, starter Barnett and reliever Aaron Dick matched the Regina starter nearly pitch-for-pitch.
The Cardinals did have a good chance in the eighth inning with a man reaching third, but then being picked off the bag.
McVey, who was coaching third, admitted he may have erred in not keeping the runner planted on the bag, but when the ball went to the shortstop, he anticipated a throw to first, at which time he was going to force the issue sending the runner.
"I'll take the blame for that," he said.
Barnett, as the starter admitted the run would have been nice, but added sometimes things don't go your way, even when you are pitching well.
In terms of pitching Barnett said his fastball and change-up were his good pitches Saturday, adding "the curveball wasn't working the way I wanted it to."
Up next
The Cardinals host Weyburn Thursday, then head to Moose Jaw for action Friday and Saturday, then stop in Regina to play the Red Sox Sunday.
Next Monday Yorkton will play Weyburn in Estevan.
