The Gilbert Tigers are taking a road trip to square off against the Mesa Jackrabbits at 3:45 p.m. on Monday. Gilbert is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.8 runs per game this season.
It was a proper cat-fight when Gilbert took on Desert Ridge on Thursday. The Tigers came up short against the Jaguars, falling 9-3. The Tigers haven't had much luck with the Jaguars recently, as the team has come up short the last three times they've met.
Gilbert saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Wilfredo Aviles IV, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Mesa, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They had just enough and edged out Westwood 7-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Jackrabbits have posted since April 14, 2025.
Mesa also got a great performance from Johnny Urquijo as he pitched 6.1 innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off five hits. Urquijo has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Bryan Jimenez, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Mesa's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 4-1 (and 1-9 when he doesn't).
Mesa's record is now 5-10. As for Gilbert, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-8.
Gilbert's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's game. The Tigers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Mesa, though, as they've been averaging only 0.9 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Gilbert continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Gilbert's way against Mesa when the teams last played back in March of 2025, as Gilbert made off with a 12-2 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Tigers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
