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Mavs hang on for 11-9 win over Bulls; tie Lethbridge for second in West

Jul 12, 2017 | 10:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Like so many Highway 3 rivalry showdowns of the past, this one took baseball fans for a ride.

In a game which lasting more than three and a half hours, the Medicine Hat Mavericks came through with a clutch 11-9 victory over the Bulls to now sit tied with Lethbridge for second place in the West Division.

It’s the first time the Mavs, who improve to 18-13, sit tied for second this summer.

It was evident from the get-go fans would be in for a long one. Lethbridge stormed out of the gate with a pair of runs, followed by a single tally mixed with a Bulls error in the first.

After RBI singles from Mavericks David Salgueiro and Louie Canjura to take a 3-2 lead, Lethbridge knotted the game at 3-3 thanks to a pass ball tossed from starter Aaron Garner.

The Mavs relentless offence continued to deliver in the bottom of the third inning. Frank Podkul knocked in two runs with a double to centre field. Lethbridge’s second error of the game brought Podkul over home plate, and Salgueiro’s second RBI single grew the Mavs lead to 7-3 through three.

Lethbridge unloaded in the fifth inning after tacking a single tally on the board in the fourth. In a frame which saw two Mavericks pitchers tossed from the mound, Darius Carter and Brock Frentzel scored back-to-back RBI doubles to regain the Bulls lead.

Medicine Hat added two more runs in the sixth, to which the Bulls tied things back up in the top of the seventh. But the Mavs responded with another pair of runs following the seventh inning stretch to take an 11-9 lead — their fourth lead of the game.

The Bulls entered the ninth inning needing to score at least two runs to stay alive, but the Mavericks shut down any chance at a comeback with timely defence.

Every Mavericks batter approaching the plate left with at least one game. That includes Blake Rowlett’s 2/4 performance with two RBI’s and Salgueiro’s team high three hits with three RBI’s.

Medicine Hat returns to action tomorrow night, welcoming the division-leading Okotoks Dawgs to Athletic Park at 7:05 p.m.