MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- It might not seem to make a lot of sense given how much firepower they’ve shown all season, but the Moose Jaw Miller Express have suddenly run into hard times at the plate in Western Canadian Baseball League action.
And that’s led to a three-game losing streak for the local squad after they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Weyburn Beavers on Thursday night at Ross Wells Park.
As an example of how suddenly things have turned when it comes to their bats, the Express had put up 25 runs in their three games leading into the current skid. In their three games since, Moose Jaw has managed only seven runs -- and dropped three close contests in the process.
Weyburn did almost all their damage in the first two innings on Thursday, beginning with a Brayden Mayencourt home run on the third pitch of the game from Express starter Aaron Knutilla.
The Beavers tacked on another run in the opening frame before Nathan Houston got one back for Moose Jaw in the bottom of the inning with a solo round-tripper of his own.
Weyburn then made it a 3-1 game in the second, but Knutilla was solid from that point on, and would hold the Beavers to three runs on eight hits over four innings to keep his team in the game.
The Express got one closer in the third, beginning when Darren Hagan bunted for a single and then ended up on third when the throw went down the first base line. An Austin Gurney single two batters later would make it a one run game.
Unfortunately for the home side, that would be the end of their offence on the night, while Weyburn picked up their fourth run in the seventh inning.
Julian Gonzalez turned in a solid relief performance for Moose Jaw, allowing a run on three hits over three innings of work before Takeo Cookson and Ethan Merk each tossed scoreless frames.
Beavers starter Ryan Meyer was outstanding, giving up two runs on five hits over 5 â…“ innings before giving way to Tanner Coddington, who allowed two hits over the next three innings. Devin Costa came on in the ninth for the final two outs and earned the save.
Hagan and Houston both finished their nights 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Ryan Dauphinee was 3-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored for Weyburn.
Moose Jaw is now 20-16 on the season and remain in third place in the East Division, 4 ½ games back of the Regina Red Sox for first and two back of the Medicine Hat Mavericks for second.
The Express will look to make up that ground with a three-game set in Medicine Hat beginning Friday and continuing Saturday and Sunday. Next home action is Tuesday when the Red Sox are in town, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
