The Weyburn Beavers have a magic number of 3 to secure a berth in the postseason, after a 4-1 home win over the Moose Jaw Miller Express Thursday night. The win also extended their lead over the Regina Red Sox for first in the East Division of the WMBL to four games.

The night didn’t look like it was going to be an easy one for the Beavers in the early going. In the first inning, with runners on the corners, Keaton Greenwalt knocked the ball along the third base line. Moose Jaw’s third baseman made the play on the ball and tagged out baserunner Corey Wheaton. The throw over to first got Greenwalt, and Felix Correa, who was returning to first thinking the ball had been hit foul, was tagged out, giving the Miller Express a triple play.

Hits were at a premium during the early parts of the game. Beavers starting pitcher Conner DiNaro was perfect through the first three innings, finally allowing a hit in the fourth, a single to right field. He would go on to allow just three more hits in the game. The San Jose, California native went seven innings, striking out five while allowing just the one run.

Moose Jaw’s pitching was fairly strong in the early parts of the game as well. Markus Gregson went five innings, striking out two, and allowing just five hits and two runs. His only glaring mistake was a balk in the fifth which put runners in scoring position.

The Beavers got on the board in the fourth inning, when Corey Harrell hit the ball to the second baseman, allowing Corey Wheaton the chance to get home.

The Beavers added to the lead in the fifth, as Tyler Scott brought home Anthony Galindo with a single to centre. The scoring continued in the sixth, as a single to left by Omar Prieto brought home Greenwalt.

The shutout was ruined in the seventh inning. A sacrifice fly to deep right field by Alex Hendra-Brown put the Miller Express on the board.

The Beavers rounded out the scoring in the eighth inning. Corey Harrell, the first batter of the inning, took the first pitch and hit a towering home run to left-centre, restoring the three-run lead.

The Beavers return to the road on Friday, as they head to Moose Jaw for a rematch with the Miller Express. The next home game for the Beavers is Sunday, as they take on the Swift Current 57’s for a matinee affair.

You can read more throughout the season about the Weyburn Beavers on the Discover Weyburn Beavers page.