Bulls hang on to beat Giants

By Lethbridge Herald on July 18, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Bulls Matthew Mackenzie watches his pitch be delivered to home plate against the Fort McMurray Giants during Western Canadian Baseball League action on Thursday at Spitz Stadium.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Bulls hung on for a 6-5 win over the Fort McMurray Giants on Thursday night at Spitz Stadium.

The Bulls gave up four runs in the ninth inning for the one-run victory.

“You never want to win that way when you’re up 6-1 going into the ninth,” said Carlin Dick.

“This is our fifth time playing them in seven days, so you knew that  there was going be that fight from them and they fought. And we just had Luke Dowdy come in from the pen and shut the door. That’s what we needed.”

The Bulls began the game with an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and all with two outs.

Dick thought the quick start neutralized Fort McMurray for most for the game.

“That four-run first was big for us and then we just played solid defence and Sheamus Ryan pitched the heck out of the ball,” said Dick.

Jack Kalisky reached first base on an error which allowed Adonis Bernal to score an unearned run to open the scoring.

Kalisky then scored all the way from first base on a Carlin Dick single to make the score 2-0.

Bernie Socarras came up to plate two batters later and hit a single with two players aboard and scored Dick to make it 3-0 Bulls.

Riley Pearce then reached first base on an error, allowing Jake Lacey to score on the play to make it 4-0 Lethbridge.

The Giants got their first run of the ball game as a Michael Buckley single scored Darcy Barry from second in sixth inning.

Tyler Monroe restored the Bulls four-run lead when he scored on a Kalisky single in the seventh inning.

Kalisky later scored on a Lacey ground out to make the score 6-1.

The Giants made it interesting after scoring the above mentioned four runs in the ninth inning.

Peyton McDowell hit a double to score two Giants batter and cut the Bulls lead to 6-3.

The Giants got to within a run after a bases loaded walk and a batter getting hit that scored two runs.

Kalisky led the way as he went 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBIS.

The win increased Lethbridge’s win streak to seven games.  

The Bulls (28-15) and Giants battle against tonight at Spitz Stadium.