The Weyburn Beavers snapped their 17-game losing skid spectacularly Tuesday night. Ian Heck went 7 2/3 innings on the mound, striking out ten, and allowing just one run, as Niko Kekatos and Robert Gurney both hit two-run home runs in the sixth inning as the Beavers beat the visiting Regina Red Sox 5-1.
“A little bit of everything,” head coach Cam Williams answered when asked what went right for the Beavers. “First off, Mr. Ian Heck had a heck of a start. He’s been really good for us all year. He set the tone from the first pitch. The guys rallied behind him, and a couple of big swings for us as well.”
“I really feel like my team had my back,” Heck said after the game. “I know they were going to make plays for me. I just wanted to come out here and throw my best stuff, and allow them to work behind me.”
The only blemish on the night was a run the Red Sox scored in the top of the sixth inning off a single from Danny Gonzalez to left field.
The Beavers answered back in their half of the inning when Kekatos put a towering shot over the fence in left field, the first pitch of his at-bat. After an out, and a hit-by-pitch that put Halen Otte on base, Regina pitcher Holden Hungerford was replaced on the mound by Zander Oudie-Senger.
The first pitch from the reliever was to Gurney, who hit a home run to nearly the same spot Kekatos had hit his, bringing in two more runs to put Weyburn up 5-1.
Kekatos’ home run was his second of the season, and Gurney’s was his first of the campaign. The home run also extended Kekatos’ hitting streak to seven games.
Devin Costa came into the game to relieve Heck with one out to go in the eighth inning. He would preserve the lead, striking out two in 1 1/3 innings of work, and allowing just one hit.
The Beavers get a day off Wednesday before they are back in action on Thursday when they travel to Moose Jaw to take on the Miller Express. The next home game is Friday when the Red Sox are back at Tom Laing Park.