By Scott Roblin/CHAT News Today

Mavericks roll over Bulls in heated matchup Saturday

Jul 23, 2017 | 11:34 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – From an offensive and defensive perspective, the Medicine Hat Mavericks played one of their best games of the season to date on Saturday against the Lethbridge Bulls.

The Mavericks got things going in the bottom of the second inning, with Chris Rodriguez and Blake Rowlett each racking up RBI singles to give the Mavs an early 3-0 advantage.

Ryan Pouwells got the Bulls on the board in the third inning, but the Mavericks responded back with a key RBI single from Frank Podkul to restore Medicine Hat’s three-run lead.

Bottom of the fifth inning and Colton Wright up to bat, as the Vancouver native launches a solo shot to give the Mavericks a 5-1 lead.

More runs in the sixth for the Mavericks, with Rowlett knocking in another run and later scoring to boost Medicine Hat’s lead to 7-1.

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

Louie Canjura joined the RBI trend on Saturday for Medicine Hat, lining an RBI single to cash in David Salgueiro to bring the Mavericks lead to 8-1.

Things got heated later in the eighth inning, with Canjura making a hard slide into homeplate and causing both benches to clear.

After a few tense minutes cooler heads prevailed, with starter Brady Tedesco closing out a stellar performance on the mound with an 8-1 victory at home.

Tedesco was a difference-maker for the Mavericks on Saturday, pitching a complete game with just one earned run given up on six hits and eight strikeouts.

Rowlett, Wright, Podkul, and Rodriguez all batted in runs for the Mavericks, with Rowlett going 4-5 at the dish with a trio of RBIs.

Breaking a short losing skid, the Mavericks didn’t make up any ground on the Edmonton Prospects and still sit in fourth in the tight Western Division, but are now within half a game of the Prospects and Bulls for second place.

The back half of the home and home series with Lethbridge will be played on Sunday afternoon, with opening pitch planned for 2:05 pm at Spitz Stadium.