For the second straight game, Western will face off against Durango. The Warriors will head out on the road to take on the Trailblazers at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Western 4, Durango 3.5) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Western's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Monday's struggle, when Durango hitters got past them. The Warriors lost 10-0 to the Trailblazers on Monday. Having soared to a lofty 17 runs in the game before, the Warriors' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
For Durango's part, Alexander Mercurius was a major factor no matter where he played. He kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 12 over six innings pitched. Mercurius has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in eight consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, firing off two home runs and five RBI while going 2-for-4. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, Jayden Shuford was incredible, going 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. He has been hot recently, having posted at least one home run the last three times he's played. Aiden Farrell was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Durango kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in 11 consecutive contests.
Durango is on a roll lately: they've won 15 of their last 16 matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 22-6 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.5 runs on average over those games. As for Western, their defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 12-8.
Wednesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Western has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .447. However, it's not like Durango struggles in that department as they've averaged .476. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
