It was a beautiful sunny afternoon for baseball Sunday.
But the Moose Jaw Miller Express certainly didn't come out as if they were excited to be at the diamond.
The home side couldn't recover from a slow start as they lost 6-1 to the Edmonton Prospects.
"It was embarrassing," said Express coach Michael Hunt. "The product we put on the field today was worth the fans getting their money back.
"Guys physically were prepared, but between the ears it was like they expected baseball to happen and it doesn't just happen."
The Express have now lost three straight games and are 7-10 on the Western Major Baseball League season. The Express travel to Regina tonight for the first game of a three-game road trip. They return home Friday against Swift Current.
The Prospects snapped a four game losing streak Friday with an 18-6 win over Weyburn. Sunday their bats stayed hot early as their second batter of the game Eric Deblanc hit a two-run home run to put them in front.
The Prospects loaded the bases before Express starter Mike Rahrich got out of the jam.
"Something woke up the bats and we've been swinging it," said Edmonton starting pitcher Taylor Burns who improved to 5-1 on the season. "I think we're a little looser now.
"I got roughed up real bad a few days ago against Regina and only lasted an inning. I just wanted to work hard and bounce back in my next start and I think I did that."
Rahrich (2-2) settled down and only gave up two more hits in the next five innings as he kept his team in the game. Rahrich pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits in nine innings of work while striking out 10 batters.
"I've got a lot of good things to say about Mike today," said Hunt. "He threw an absolute gem.
"Mike threw his (butt) off today. He deserved to get a complete game. He deserved to get a win. Unfortunately the guys behind him today just didn't show up to play."
One of the problems for the Express was that they couldn't touch Burns. They broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth when Jess Cooper doubled and then watched as Cooper was tagged out when he stepped off the bag after sliding in safely.
It was that kind of day for the home side.
The Prospects scored a pair of unearned runs in a four-run rally in the seventh inning that put the visitors ahead 6-0. The Express committed four errors on the day.
They salvaged some pride, by getting on the board in the seventh. Eric Nutzhorn doubled and scored on a Brandon Loveridge single when Edmonton's Jacob Yousif overran the ball allowing Nutzhorn to score.
Loveridge had a strong day at the plate finishing 2-for-3 despite still being hampered by a knee injury. Loveridge got the start at first base
"With his knee injury we've been taking it slow, he's been getting some pinch hits in the last few games," said Hunt. "I'm glad mentally he got some confidence."
Loveridge reached base three times - as many times as the rest of the Express combined.
Hunt had recruited Burns to pitch at Colby College and wasn't surprised by his performance.
"We know Taylor pretty well," said Hunt. "He gets ahead with off-speed and he gets ahead with the fastball and he throws strikes. And it makes his job that much easier when we swing at pitches out of the strike zone."
Burns also pitched a complete game. He allowed four hits and struck out 10 and didn't allow an earned run.
Deblanc had a big day at the plate for Edmonton as he finished 3-for-4 with two runs and was a triple away from hitting for the cycle. Andy Petz was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles.
Matthew Gourlie can be reached at 691-1261
