Canada Day was not a happy holiday for the Yorkton Cardinals as they were pummeled for 13 runs while managing only one run in a 13-1 Western Major Baseball League loss to the Melville Millionaires.
Yorkton actually lead 1-0 going into the fourth inning, but after that it was all Mills as they scored three in the fourth, and fifth, and added two in the sixth and five in the seventh.
Mitchell Bro threw eight innings for Melville, allowing only one earned run on four hits, and striking out four.
David Toth took the loss for Yorkton, starting and going five innings, while giving up 11 hits, and six earned runs.
The loss left Yorkton with a 9-15 record, and three games off the pace behind Melville with a 12-12 record.
Regina sits second one game back of the Mills, while Weyburn is 3.5 back in fourth.
Sunday loss to rivals
A three inning fourth by the Cardinals went for naught at Pirie Field in Melville as the Millionaires had a three-run fourth of their own then added four in the seventh on their way to a 9-3 home field win.
Matt Bowles started and went 6.1 innings for Yorkton, allowing 12 hits and giving up seven runs, all of those earned.
Cardinal assistant coach John McVey said Melville is a tough club.
"We've talked about it all year. They're a good baseball club," he said, adding that while Yorkton was 3-1 against the Mills going into Sunday's action, Melville evened the series with good games. "We knew how good they were," he reiterated.
Monday the Cardinals also made mistakes, having three errors and six walks, and McVey admitted that didn't help.
"If you boot the ball around like we did, walk a few, you get booted around like this," he said.
But McVey said it was not a case of lack of effort. He said the players are at practice daily and regulars at the gym, showing good work ethic.
But at times when things start to go wrong it snow balls, and then "against a good team this is going to happen."
To turn things around McVey said it's a case of hitting the field Tuesday morning to address some things, and then get back to looking after things they can control, like concentrating on throwing strikes and having good at-bats.
Big bats
Saturday the Yorkton Cardinal bats erupted at Jubilee Park as they scored 10-runs in the third innings, and added two in the eight to go on to a 12-2 win over Weyburn.
Dylan Gross had three hits and three RBIs for Yorkton, while Kameron Mizzell had four hits.
Jeff Pool started and went six scoreless innings for Yorkton to earn the win.
Swift Current split
The Swift Current Indians were in Yorkton Thursday and Friday for action.
Friday night a four-run fourth by Yorkton was the difference in a 5-3 win at Jubilee Park.
Shane Rivera went seven on the mound for Yorkton scattering seven hits and allowing only two earned run and striking out six.
Kody Rock earned a save on three innings of work, allowing only one run.
A night earlier Swift Current struck for two in the opening half of the first inning, let Yorkton score five over four innings to take a solid 5-2 lead, then added three in the eighth and two in the ninth for an 8-5 Indians win.
Matt Chavarria started and went six for Yorkton, allowing six hits and three runs, two of those earned, and striking out a pair.
Taylor Metzger took the loss in two-thirds of an inning of relief.
Last Wednesday
Yorkton was in Weyburn June 26, and took a lead with a loner run in the top of the second.
The Beavers tied the score in the home half of the second inning, then added two in the third.
The Cardinals responded with one in the fourth inning and one in the sixth to tie the game, only to have Weyburn add one in their half of the sixth to take the lead.
Yorkton tied it in the seventh, then gave up the eventual game-winning run in the eighth in the 5-4 loss.
David Toth started the game and went seven innings for Yorkton, allowing 10 hits, four runs, all earned and striking out six.
Aaron Dick took the loss in relief.
Up next
The Cardinals are in Regina Thursday, host Melville Friday, then head to Pirie Field to again play the Millionaires Saturday.
Sunday and Monday Okotoks visits Jubilee Park with Weyburn here next Tuesday.
