The Western Major Baseball League Yorkton Cardinals dropped both games of a two game series against the Yellow Jackets in Saskatoon last week.
The Cardinals saw a first inning two run lead evaporate as the Yellow Jackets tied the game in the third inning with a pair of runs, added one run in each of the fifth and sixth and pounded out the hits to drive in five seventh inning runs on the way to a 9-4 win.
Cardinals starter Luis Lora who worked six innings, giving up eight hits for four earned runs, was tagged with the loss.
Max MacDonald closed the final two innings gave up five hits for five runs, three of them earned runs.
Henry Cartagena had three hits and scored a run for Yorkton. James Green and Jake Bailey each had a pair of hits and scored a run. Jon Mihic had a hit to drive in a run for an RBI and scored a run.
Yorkton took a one run first inning lead in the second game of the series only to see the Yellow Jackets rally to claim a 6-3 win.
The Cardinals managed to bring home one run in the first, sixth and seventh innings while Saskatoon scored two runs in the second and fourth, adding one run in each of the sixth and eighth innings.
Yorkton Starter Ghazaleh Sailors, tagged with the loss, gave up 11 hits which resulted in five earned runs in five and two thirds innings on the mound.
Kevin McLeod picked up an RBI and scored a run for the Cardinals, as did Cartagena.
Green crossed home plate in the seventh to score Yorkton's final run of the game.
The Cardinals redeemed themselves in front of their hometown fans with a narrow, come from behind squeaker Monday night at Jubilee Park as they edged out the visiting Moose Jaw Miller Express 4-3.
The Cardinals took a one run lead after the second inning, only to see it evaporate as the Miller Express drove in three runs in the top of the fourth to go ahead 3-1.
Yorkton replied with a run in the fifth to pull within one and brought home a pair of runners in the home half of the sixth to take a 4-3 lead which held for the win.
Sean Gavin started for the Cards working giving up a pair of earned runs on five hits.
Cardinals reliever Robert Rivers earned the win.
Cardinals' player of the game, Jake Bailey scored a pair of runs on a pair of hits and drove in an RBI.
Green had two hits and picked up an RBI.
Luis Sanchez had a hit to drive in a run.
Kevin McLeod had a pair of hits and scored a run.
Zachary Bott had a hit and came home for a run scored.
Cardinals player of the game Bailey says Monday night's win was big giving the team an opportunity to make the playoffs.
"It was just my day today. I was putting a good swing on it. I felt good. I saw the ball pretty good," says the catcher out of Mt San Antonio College.
Bailey claims the Cardinals have been pretty confident throughout the season but have had some tough breaks. The win Monday, boosts that confidence. "We've got two games against Melville and we should be able to beat them. We're a pretty good ball club," he declares.
Cardinals head coach Bill Sobkow says it was a very important win. "That's what it takes, some hits and very good pitching," he suggests.
Sobkow admits his team committed several errors. "You can't commit errors night after night and expect to win games," he insists.
At times the Cardinals play a solid defense and at others they appear lackadaisical. "It has to improve otherwise, we're done," he says.
Sobkow says the Cardinals have to play great baseball to win both games against Melville in order to stay in contention. "They give us daylight but we've got to be able to take the opportunity," her closes.
The Cardinals, battling to climb out of the East Division basement and stay in playoff contention, now have 10 wins for the season.
