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By Scott Roblin

Defensive Duel

Mavericks outlasted in pitcher’s duel, passed in standings by Lethbridge

Aug 4, 2019 | 9:27 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – If Sunday’s tilt at Athletic Park was any sort of preview, a first round series between the Medicine Hat Mavericks and Lethbridge Bulls could go the distance.

Kicking off a pivotal two-game series that could end up deciding home field advantage, the Bulls outlasted Medicine Hat 2-1 in a lengthy pitcher’s duel that required extra innings.

Roger Riley’s single in the top of the 10^th inning scored the eventual game winning run for Lethbridge, as the bats on both sides were kept eerily quiet for most of the afternoon.

The first four innings were fairly uneventful at Athletic Park with neither side able to place a man on third base, let alone cash in any runs.

Lethbridge’s first opportunity of the afternoon came in the top of the fifth after Brett Mercier advanced to third base on a fielder’s choice, however he quickly trotted back to the dugout after Mavericks starter Derek Eubanks got Kaleb Warden to fly out to end the threat.

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Bulls starting pitcher Dylan Steen was replaced after the sixth inning, allowing no runs on four Medicine Hat hits while striking out four batters.

After getting a fly out to start the seventh inning, Eubanks wasn’t far behind Steen as he was pulled in favour of Taylor Wright after six and one-third innings with just three hits allowed and two punch outs in the scoreless game.

Following a scoreless eighth inning, it was Bulls outfielder Nicholas Ankermann finally breaking the deadlock with an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning to bring home Riley.

Needing some offence in the bottom half of the inning to keep the game alive, a double from Sal Rodriguez got Medicine Hat off to a good start.

Replaced by Liam Rosebeck to pinch run, the relief pitcher showed off his quickness by stealing third base and putting the tying run 90 feet away with no one out.

Nolan Rattai was able to get a hold of an Evan O’Toole offering shortly afterwards, scoring Rosebeck from third on the sacrifice-fly to send the game into extra innings.

In the 10^th inning, a costly error by Collin Klingensmith on the hot corner allowed Lethbridge’s Ashton Roy to advance to third base with just one out.

After an infield pop-up by Robert Bostedt for the inning’s second out, Riley ripped a single into the outfield to score Roy and give the Bulls the lead once again.

O’Toole was able to make quick work of the Mavericks in the bottom half of the inning with a fly out, strikeout, and a ground out to end the game and give the Bulls the extra innings win.

P.J. Garcia was the lone Mavericks player to register two hits on the afternoon, as the team was edged in that category by Lethbridge 7-6.

Losing back-to-back games for the first time since early July, Medicine Hat was passed Sunday by the Bulls for second place in the Western Division and trail their rivals by half a game.

Another crucial meeting with Lethbridge lies ahead on Monday night for the Mavericks, heading to Spitz Stadium for the 6:05 pm first pitch to wrap up the series.