CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

Mavs have no answer against Bulls ace Griffin

Jun 18, 2019 | 10:16 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The slide continues for the reigning league champions.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks lost a seventh consecutive game, and third in as many matches against Lethbridge, falling to the Bulls 10-2 at Athletic Park on Tuesday night.

Medicine Hat now slips to 6-11 and remain fifth place in the WCBL’s Western Division, having not found the win column since June 9 in Fort McMurray. Their lone victory at home remains their first game of the season, followed by five straight losses at AP.

Starting Bulls pitcher Jaden Griffin was a thorn for the Mavs order from the get-go, racking up six strikeouts and allowing just three hits in 5.1 scoreless innings.

Lethbridge improves to 9-7 on the season and continue to occupy second place in the West. They’ve now won three straight. In three victories against Medicine Hat this season, the Bulls have outscored the Mavs 39-10.

The entirety of Medicine Hat’s scoring came in the ninth inning. Sal Rodriguez broke the goose-egg by scoring on a wild-pitch. Reed Odland followed him home moments later on a sac-bunt by Russell Strilchuk to score the second of two runs.

Offensively, the Bulls were led by Torrin Vaselenak, Ty Penner, and Liam Vulcano, who each collected RBI’s in the victory. Vulcano batted in a pair of runs while going 2-for-4 at the dish, and Grant Kerry went 2-for-3 with two walks.

After a scoreless first inning, the Bulls racked up four of their five runs in the second. Dylan Borman walked over home with bases loaded, followed by Vaselenak scoring on a pass ball and Jared Semeniuk taking advantage of a sac-fly by Vulcano. Penner notched the fourth tally of the frame moments later on a wild-pitch.

Lethbridge threw a five-spot on the board in the ninth, led by two-RBI singles by Vulcano and Kerry.

Woes at the dish continued for the Mavs, with only five hits accumulated across the line-up. Pimentel lasted six innings on the mound and allowed four hits, five walks, and four earned runs.

Making his Mavericks debut after parting ways with the Okotoks Dawgs recently, Austin Oulds took the mound in relief of Derek Eubanks. After stranding two Bulls in the eighth, the Chatham, ON product was replaced in the ninth after allowing three earned runs and four hits over 1.2 innings.

Medicine Hat will attempt to shake off their lengthy skid on Wednesday night, hosting the division-leading Okotoks Dawgs at 7:05 p.m.