BY TRUMAN BARTMAN ON JULY 24TH, 2024. THE MAVERICKS.CA

Just yesterday, fans left Athletic Park stunned after the Mavericks relinquished a 4-run lead, losing to the Regina Red Sox 12-8. 

The Mavericks got a solid performance on the mound from Jacob Petersheim but couldn’t find a way to use Petersheim’s solid outing to get them over the hump. 

For the Red Sox, last night’s comeback could very well have been a season-defining one. They now hold a 4.5-game lead on the Mavericks and are mere inches away from clamping up the 1 spot in the East.

Keys for Medicine Hat

The Mavs hadn’t lost back-to-back games since June 26th and were having a picture-perfect July. They had been on a steady pace towards first place but never got over the hump. They would need lots of things to go their way, including many outcomes that are out of their control. 

What they can control is how they respond against Regina. It won’t be easy, as the Mavericks learned the hard way a night ago, but it is doable. Jordan Phillips, Marshall Burke, and Brody Gardner have continued their strong play as of late. The same cannot be said for Nick Thibodeau, who went 0-5 in the last game. 

Thibodeau was in the MVP conversation for most of the season, but his play has changed over the last 6 or so games. The Mavericks need him to be successful, as he brings a power unlike any other. 

Aidan Lenzen will get the start tonight, and Jaden Babiuk will be his catcher behind the plate. Lenzen is very fond of having Babiuk in front of him, and the combo could be an x-factor in tonight’s contest.

Keys for Regina

It took a while for the oven to heat up, but the Red Sox eventually were able to burn down the Mavericks lead. 

Diego Aragon and Danny Gonzalez were unstoppable at the plate, and it seemed as though they were the ones who got each rally going. Aragon had 4 runs on 3 hits, which is a monster line. 

Despite the Mavericks going deep twice, the Red Sox took a different route and punished the Mavericks by playing elite small ball. This got the bottom of the lineup going early and allowed for the Sox’s bigger weapons to settle in.

Regina should feel good about scoring 8 runs in their last two innings, and it may be a sign of things to come early in this game. Keep a close watch on how the Red Sox play over the first three innings or so; that may just indicate if they have carried over their momentum from yesterday.

Bottom Line

It should be another fun one tonight from Athletic Park as the sun is out once again. The bugs are also out and created quite the atmosphere in the back half of Tuesday’s match. 

It is also a country night at the ballpark to celebrate the Medicine Hat Stampede tipping off. So if you hate country music as much as I do, you might want to stay home and view this one on HomeTeam Live so that you can avoid having to listen to 9 innings of terror. 

If you do enjoy country music, then Athletic Park has you covered all night long, so come on out at 7:05 pm and enjoy some music and ball.