It's a game they had to have.
The Yorkton Cardinals now have a 2 game cushion over the Weyburn Beavers after last night's 6-5 win at home in extra innings. A loss would have left the two teams tied, and it also would have given the Cardinals their 5th straight loss, with a home and home with division-leading Regina to close it out. The 2 game lead provides some much-needed breathing room.
The bulk of the offense from both teams came in the first 3 innings, with the Cardinals up 5-4 after 3. Weyburn tied it in the seventh... before Mark Magdeleno scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the 10th, securing the 6-5 victory.
Andrew "Buster" Mueller, normally a pitcher, batted as DH Sunday night, and hit a 2-run homer in the 3rd. Lead-off man Kaleb Cunningham went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored... Brian Burton was also 3-for-5 with an RBI... while Thomas McAlpine was 2-for-3.
A night after taking the loss against Melville, Thomas Berolzheimer worked a perfect 10th inning, fanning 2 batters and a getting a ground ball out to register the win. Mike Goemens worked 9 complete innings for Yorkton, surrendering 5 runs, 4 of them earned, on 6 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 3.
The Cards are home to Regina tonight (MON), and then visit the Red Sox tomorrow. Weyburn's got 4 games left, a double-header in Melville tonight, before hosting Swift Current and going to Saskatoon the next 2 days.
Melville and Regina were rained out last night. The Mils are still 2.5 games off the pace.
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Quick Rider thoughts....
- Doesn't seem to matter who's in at QB. Steven Jyles was effective, going 14-18, 201 yds, 1TD, 1INT. Darian Durant was crunched as he threw early in the game, cracking or breaking ribs. That's 3 different quarterbacks who have led the Riders to their 5 wins.
- Andy Fantuz had another big game, until his foot was pointing the wrong way after a tackle, nearly as gruesome as D.J. Flick. That's our top 3 slotbacks... Flick, Fantuz, and Weston Dressler... all out. Dressler should be back next week.
- Wes Cates. Mr. Consistent. Wasn't used as much in the passing game in this one, but had 130 on the ground, and 2TDs.
- Another injury on defense. James Johnson had his bell rung but is likely returning next week. They held it together without him and John Chick. No one guy REALLY stands out, but I'm really liking Anton McKenzie so far. Reggie who?
- Idiot quote of the day? Rich Stubler: "Our fans in Toronto last week were louder than these people." Ya Right.
- GREAT reception for Kerry Joseph at the start of the game. The fans at Mosaic battled the rain and the hail and gave Kerry a standing 'O'. I'm just glad he lost this one. Wasn't overly impressive, just 50% passing at 21/42... but did have a Labour Day-like QB Draw for a TD soon after the rain delay.
- 5-and-0... first time in franchise modern history. It's good to be a Rider Fan.
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