Cactus Rats score six runs in ninth to defeat Bulls

By Lethbridge Herald on July 11, 2025.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Bulls JP Spinosa makes the off-balance throw to first base for the out against the Energy City Cactus Rats during Western Canadian Baseball League action on Thursday night at Spitz Stadium.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Energy City Cactus Rats broke a 5-5 tie in the ninth innings by scoring six runs to knock off the Lethbridge Bulls 11-6 on Thursday night at Spitz Stadium.

Bernie Socarras scored on a two-out double by Jack Kalisky to open the scoring for the Bulls in the bottom of the first inning.

Kalisky gave the Bulls a 2-0 lead in the fourth as he scored on a Brennan McTavish ground out.

The Cactus Rats took the lead in the fifth inning with three runs of their own.

ECCR got their first run on a passed ball, which saw Drew Abercrombie cross the plate on a wild pitch  while Kenyon Sanders was up to bat and Sanders then hit a double to score Zach Barnao to tie the game at two.

Sanders later scored on a Ten Shindo single to give the Cactus Rats a 3-2 lead.

The Bulls then took the lead back on a two-run home run by Socarras in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Energy City tied the game in the sixth inning as Timo Aracena scored on an Abercrombie double.

Abercrombie gave the Cactus Rats a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning as he scored on an error by the shortstop.

The Bulls tied the game at five in the bottom of the eighth inning when Carter Claerhout came around to score on a fielding error by the Cactus Rats.

The Cactus Rats tacked on six  runs in the ninth to lead 11-5.

The Bulls got a run back in the bottom of the ninth.

Socarras had two hits in four plate appearances, two runs and batted in two runs to lead the way for the Bulls.

Kalisky and Lee Matsuzaki had two hits too.

Bulls starter Brett Getz gave up four runs on eight hits, while striking out eight batters and walked one in six innings,  and it was the third reliever Julian Robertson who took the loss after pitching to one batter in the ninth inning.

Robertson gave up four runs on three hits and walked a batter.

Both teams due battle again tonight at Spitz Stadium.