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One day after an explosive win in Moose Jaw, the Weyburn Beavers found themselves in another nail-biter Sunday afternoon, this time on home turf. Despite a strong mid-game surge, the Beavers fell 8-7 to the Moose Jaw Miller Express, who secured their first win of the season.
Weyburn’s offence was once again sparked by second baseman Alex Alva, who continued his hot streak at the plate.
“Just trying to keep everything simple, get going a little bit,” Alva said postgame. “The first games are always about making adjustments, so it’s good to just kind of get my feet wet and find some adjustments.”
Alva’s bat came alive over the weekend, delivering three RBI doubles in Saturday’s 19-16 win and another on Sunday, bringing his season total to four in just four games.
Sunday’s game saw Moose Jaw jump ahead with a five-run third inning, keyed by a three-run homer from William Edwards. Weyburn clawed back in the fifth and sixth innings, fueled by doubles from Alva, Noah Brooks, and Ryan Dauphinee, tying the game at 7-7.
The Beavers did take the early lead, as Ian Heck drove a single to right field that brought Brooks across the plate. Moose Jaw would add a run in the second, then put up the five-run third inning. Another run in the fourth had them leading 7-1.
In the fifth inning, Weyburn started the rally.
Alva would hit a double to center field that the wind pushed just enough to keep it from being a home run. This would cash in Dauphinee and Luke Malzewski.
In the sixth inning, the bats stayed alive. With the bases loaded, Dauphinee hit a sacrifice fly to centre. Then, Alva hit a single to right that brought in Robert Gurney. Brooks then hit a single to left that brought in Alva and Malzewski.
However, a run scored by Moose Jaw in the top of the eighth proved decisive, and closer Nathan Pisio shut the door in the ninth to earn the save. Moose Jaw would
“We have a really good group,” said Beavers' head coach Cam Williams. “Today didn’t go our way, but it was a tight one, 8-7. Just a couple little things we’ve got to clean up. But they’re willing to learn and work hard. That’s all you can ask for.”
Weyburn’s bullpen kept the game within reach, with Isaiah Granado striking out six over 3 2/3 scoreless innings and Logan Kinter allowing just one unearned run across the final three.
The Beavers are now 2-2 to start the season, and holding 4th place in the East Division, half a game back of Regina and Saskatoon, who are tied for second, and 2.5 back of Medicine Hat in 1st place. Moose Jaw moves to 1-3 with the win.
“It’s going to be a competitive year again,” Williams said. “Anyone can beat anyone on any given night, which is why you’ve got to go into every game expecting it to be tight.”
The Beavers now get a couple of days off to regroup before a rematch with the Miller Express Wednesday night at Tom Laing Park.
“We’ve got a couple things to address in practice,” Williams noted. “So, we’ll have a good couple days and then be ready for a nice little rematch.”
First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday.