The Trail Jays had a hard time on the road Tuesday as they journeyed to Post Falls to go beak-to-beak against the Prairie Cardinals.
In the first half of the doubleheader, Dallas Calvin pitched seven strong innings, giving up seven hits, and three earned runs while striking out two and walking three.
The Jays held a tenuous 2-0 lead going into the sixth when the Prairie birds exploded for four runs in the inning to take the 4-2 win.
The Jays out-hit the Cards but couldn’t translate hits into runs. Brady Glover went 3 for 4 at the plate with one RBI and Calvin hit 2 for 2 with a walk.
In the second half of the double, the wheels came off completely as the Prairie Cardinals pounded out 13 runs in a 13-2 win. Garrett Kucher took the loss as Jarret Conway and Tanner Rotschy both went 1 for 2.
On Wednesday, Trail and Post Falls had a makeup game at Butler Park but despite the home field advantage the Jays dropped their third game in a row to the Cards, to fall to 18 and 20 for the season.
The Cardinals took off flying in the first scoring three runs against Jays’ starter Gerry Rebelato as they glided to a 6-3 victory. Rebelato threw six innings giving up six hits while striking out one and walking four to take the loss.
Jarret Conway went 2 for 2 and Jesse Rypien 2 for 3 as the Jays defense was uncharacteristically sloppy, committing five errors in the game.
Over the next three days the Jays play three doubleheaders against Sandpoint Lakers, Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen and the Lewis-Clark Twins.
*Butler Park also has a FaceBook page to promote its selection as one of Canada’s top-16 Favourite Baseball Parks.
“No matter what happens, I think we have done a great job just to be included in Canada’s Top 16,” said Jays’ advisor Ed Ferraro.
Ferraro encourages locals to come out and support the Trail Jays North Idaho District Playoffs on July 21-24 and The Trail Orioles Western Canadian Mens Championships from Aug. 25-28.
“That should translate to votes, I hope.”