By Scott Roblin

Velasco walks-off Mavericks in marathon, 16-inning tilt with Prospects

Jun 22, 2019 | 10:53 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – After enduring a frustration losing streak, the Medicine Hat Mavericks got their swagger back with a thrilling marathon walk-off victory at Athletic Park.

Minutes after the clock struck midnight on Saturday, John Velasco connected on a Zac Harrington pitch in the 16th inning to give Medicine Hat a sudden-death 4-3 win over the Edmonton Prospects.

Going through five pitchers throughout the almost five-hour contest, reliever Derek Eubanks starred with no runs allowed over six innings of work while adding four strikeouts.

Medicine Hat left fielder Cameron Pope opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, getting contact on an RBI-single to bring Velasco from third base.

The Prospects were quick to tie things up though, with Travis Hunt scoring Pierce Blohowiak in the third inning to even things up at 1-1.

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Eric Crain gave Edmonton its first lead of the night in the fifth inning with an RBI-single, cashing in second baseman Brendan Luther.

After 18 games without a home run, Mavericks veteran Colton Wright was finally able to connect on his first bomb of the season in the bottom of the eighth for a two-run shot to put Medicine Hat ahead 3-2.

Medicine Hat needed just three outs to close out the game, however Blohowiak had other plans for the Prospects.

Blohowiak hit a deep fly ball to centre field for the inning’s second out, but was able to score Beaux Guilbeau in the process to tie the game at 3-3.

After four scoreless innings of extra baseball, the Prospects looked poised to jump ahead with the bases loaded and just one hour.

However, Eubanks and the Mavericks were able to get Jake Gehri to ground out into the inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to keep Medicine Hat alive.

In the bottom of the 16th after Sal Rodriguez put runners on the corners with a single, the Prospects chose to intentionally walk Wright to load the bases with two outs.

Sitting on a full count, Velasco crushed a single to bring home Nolan Rattai and was subsequently mobbed by his teammates at first base after walking-off the Prospects.

OF John Velasco ends it in the 16th inning on a single to knock in Nolan Rattai. Let’s all go home. @wcbleague #medhat @EdmProspects pic.twitter.com/cmzZsrBBUd

— MedHat Mavericks (@mhmavericks) June 22, 2019

Earning their second win in a row, the 8-12 Mavericks have put together their first win streak since June 9 and remain half a game back of the Fort McMurray Giants for fourth place in the Western Division.

Medicine Hat continues its series with the Prospects on Saturday night, first pitch at Athletic Park is set for 7:05 pm.