Offenses Thrive As Wolfpack Edge Brewers

The Wolfpack improved to 6-1 by taking the first game of their doubleheader with the Airdrie Brewers this Sunday. After a sluggish offensive game against the Dukes on Friday night that resulted in an uncharacteristic four runs, the Wolfpack bats got back on track Sunday despite missing their regular 1, 3, and 4-hole hitters and jumped out to a big early lead to take the pressure off the pitching staff.

The Wolfpack purchased the contract of Braydon Saunders (1-0) late Saturday from their affiliate and called him up to make his Wolfpack debut on the mound in Game 1. He certainly got his career off on the right foot by going four innings and allowing only two runs on four hits, while striking out five and walking two, he collected his first career win in the process. He also reached base twice and scored a run in the contest. The front office liked what they saw in Saunders and are excited to test out his versatility in the outfield when he is next available.

There were fresh faces making immediate impacts on the other side of the ball as well. Free agent aquisition Cody Phipps made his first start in the outfield after taking a couple weeks to get back into game shape due to a slow free agency period that ran well into Spring Training. After reaching on an error in the first inning, he sparked the seven-run rally in the third with a lead off home run that still hasn't landed. The Pack would bat around the order that inning and Phipps added an RBI triple to his line in that same inning. 

Matt Zanutto was called up for a brief two-game stint before being sent back down to the Yorkton Cardinals on Monday morning, but was able to reach base in three of his five plate appearances, and is also the first Wolfpack catcher to throw out a base runner in 2018 after back-dooring a Brewer on first base that was asleep at the wheel.

The Brewers pushed back and brought the game back to within five runs in the sixth, but Austin Baran shut the door to collect his first save of 2018 after coming into a bases-loaded, no outs situation and retiring the next three Brewers.

Game 2 kicks off at 11:50am as the Wolfpack look to reclaim first place for a third time this season with another win.