The Moose Jaw Regals scored eight runs in the first three innings, but then the bats went quiet at Ross Wells Park.

The Regina Pirates finished off their comeback with two runs in the top of the seventh to steal a 9-8 win from the Regals in the Regina Optimist Junior Baseball League on Tuesday night.

"We just kind of let off after the fourth inning," said starting pitcher Carson James. "The intensity went down a little bit, we had a really strong first few innings and thought we had it in the bag, but it turns out we didn't."

James went four innings, allowing four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks. He exited the game with an 8-4 lead, but the Pirates were able to chip away at that lead over the next three innings to secure the win.

Despite the loss, James said he's coming away happy with how he was able to throw in the game.

"I actually felt pretty good for the first one of the year, so I'm looking forward to the season and got to build some strength back into the arm and get back to it," said James.

This is James' first season with the Regals and he said he's really excited to see how they can develop this season.

"There's a lot of new young guys on the team, it should be a good year with the guys," he said. "The first couple games of the year are always tough, just rebuilding and meeting new guys, but once we get together, the chemistry will come."

Pitcher Carson James delivers a pitch for the Regals during Tuesday's game against the Regina Pirates at Ross Wells Park. (Photo: Marc Smith)

Dawson Kurz allowed two runs in the fifth and then the Pirates tagged Wyatt Riendeau for three runs in his 1 2/3 innings of work.

Chris Cooper came on to get the final out in the seventh, but the Regals couldn't mount a comeback in the bottom half of the inning, despite getting their lead off runner to second.

Catcher Jordan Logan walked to start the game and then came around to score on an RBI-single by Kaleb Wilson to get the Regals rolling early. Their first four batters of the game reached base and scored to make it a 4-2 game after one.

Logan walked again in the second inning and came around to score on a double from Wilson, who came in to score on a wild pitch to put the Regals up 6-2.

Riendeau walked to lead off the third and eventually scored, along with Kyle Wilson, in the third to give the Regals a 8-3 lead after three.

Moose Jaw didn't manage a hit again until the seventh.

Logan walked in all four at-bats out of the lead-off spot for the Regals, scoring twice and adding two stolen bases as well.

Kaleb Wilson was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while Riendeau finished 2-for-3 with one run, two RBI and one walk. Cooper and Weston Mergel also drove in runs for Moose Jaw.

First baseman Robert Ermel drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the seventh for the Pirates. He finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Regals are back on the field coming up on Sunday when they head to Regina to take on the Angels.