MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- It was another one of those games for the Moose Jaw Miller Express in the opening contest of the Western Canadian Baseball League East Division Final on Sunday afternoon.
The Express gave up 10 runs over the first six innings and only once were able to hold the Berries scoreless in an inning in that span, eventually going on to drop a 14-1 decision at Cairns Field in Saskatoon.
As a result, Moose Jaw will need a win at Ross Wells Park on Monday night to keep their season alive, as the Berries can wrap up the best-of-three series and advance to the WCBL Final with a win.
Nothing went right for Moose Jaw from first inning on, and Saskatoon’s steady offensive production saw to it things were well in hand long before the seventh-inning stretch.
Matt Vasquez got the start for the Express and allowed three runs on five hits over the first two innings before giving way to Jacob Quiles, who was unable to get an out while giving up three runs in the third.
Julian Gonzalez took over on the mound and was able to stop the bleeding, but gave up two runs on two hits over two innings. Cameron Dunn pitched 2 1/3 and allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits before Ty Thomson finished off the seventh, giving up another run on two hits.
Moose Jaw Minor Baseball product Nathan Pisio made his second appearance of the season on the mound in the ninth and was the only Express pitcher to retire the side in order, getting through the eighth unscathed.
As one might expect, all that offence led to some gaudy numbers for Saskatoon hitters, led by outfielder Carter Beck. The Carnduff product -- who came into the game hitting over .600 through the first round of the playoffs -- played a major role in the Berries’ start and would end up hitting for the cycle.
Beck’s impressive outing began with a lead-off double in the first inning and continued with a two-run home run in the fourth, single in the fifth and triple in the seventh.
All told, Beck would go 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three runs batted in.
Grant Sommers also had a decent game at the plate with a 3-for-4 showing that included two runs scored and three runs batted in, while Jaden Lamothe was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.
The Berries racked up seven doubles on the afternoon and finished with 19 hits.
Moose Jaw scored their one run in the eighth when Nathan Houston took a lead-off walk and eventually scored on a Nate Mensik sacrifice fly.
The Express had only six hits total, with no batter getting more than one.
The two teams will be back in action for Game 2 on Wednesday night, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
