Controversial call highlights Mavericks collapse against Prospects

Edmonton’s final run came in controversial fashion, as Prospects infielder Dominic Meza hit a ball deep to left field and down by one run in the top of the ninth inning.

To the Mavericks players and coaching staff, the ball appeared to land foul but was ruled fair and allowed Tyler Freas to round third and score what would be the game-winning run.

“This is twice in the last week now that we’ve lost a ballgame where we’ve scored eight,” said Mavericks head coach Tyler Jeske postgame. “The bottom line is you can’t lose those games. I made it clear too that I have no problem calling the offense out when we lose a ballgame 3-2. But, losing a game 9-8 when you had a big lead, it just can’t happen.”

Medicine Hat third baseman Nathan Ade got one of the best looks at the play in Athletic Park and believes the wrong call was made, but added it was a position the Mavericks should have never been in.

“Since I played third I was on the line,” said Ade. “I thought it was pretty clearly foul. But, I guess umpires are like players, you make some and you lose some. I thought he clearly missed it and it put us in a hole, but it’s up to us to try to bounce back to that and make a comeback there. It was still up to us.”

Jeske was ejected following a heated argument with home plate umpire Brandon Oberg, a less than ideal end to his birthday on Wednesday.

However, he made it clear in his postgame availability that it was important to stick up for his players.

“I texted my mom postgame and I go, ‘Hey, I just got ejected on my birthday,’” said Jeske. “My family got a good kick out of that. But, at the same time you got to protect them and you got to let them know, ‘I’ve got your back.’”

After falling behind 3-0 to start the game thanks to a three-run home run from Meza, the Mavericks exploded in the second inning with six runs from Austin Cappas, Kristoff Swanson, Deon Reese, Adrian Salazar and Ade.

Ade added his second RBI of the night with a double in the fourth inning, before Braden Desonia extended Medicine Hat’s lead to 8-3 in the fifth in what would be the club’s final run of the night.

“I think sometimes we get a little complacent in the dugout, I think it all starts there,” said Ade. “You can never take your foot off the gas, no matter how big the run lead is. I think we’ve seen that these past few weeks.”

Garrett Nicholson had a rough start on the Mavericks pitching mound, pulled after just one and one-third innings after allowing three earned runs on five hits with a trio of strikeouts.

Medicine Hat veteran Hunter Cooper settled things down going four and two-thirds innings in relief of Nicholson, striking out five with one hit against.

Battling illness Wednesday, Bryce Libke struggled with three earned runs given up against three batters, while Isaiah Bartels and Jacob Prosch gave up three runs combined over the remainder of the game.

Jeske said it’s important the bullpen is able to get their game back in form quickly and that starts with the rotation being able to get quality starts.

“I’ve told Ethan Bromley, ‘You’ve got the ball tomorrow, you’ve got to step up and eat innings and go deep in this ball game,’” said Jeske. “That’s because we went through a lot of pitchers tonight.”

Bromley will take to the mound for the Mavericks on Thursday night, looking to bounce back in Lethbridge against the Bulls at 7:05 pm.

by Scott Roblin

Controversial call highlights Mavericks collapse against Prospects

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