Goldeyes Batter RedHawks, Lambson Wins 8th, 11-3
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (37-27) beat the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 11-3 at Shaw Park on Saturday evening.
Correlle Prime gave the RedHawks an early 1-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single in the top of the first.
Winnipeg answered with two runs in the bottom half on a Kyle Martin RBI double and a Willy Garcia RBI single.
After the RedHawks briefly tied the game in the top of the second on a two-out single from Brennan Metzger, the Goldeyes took the lead for good with a seven-run bottom half.
With one out, Reggie Abercrombie lined a single to right centre and advanced to third on Alex Perez’s line drive single to centre. After Kevin Garcia walked, Tyler Hill ripped a double down the left field line that scored Abercrombie and Perez. Carlos Garcia followed with a single down the left field line that plated Kevin Garcia and Hill to make it 6-2. After Carlos Garcia stole second, James Harris launched an RBI double to centre. Martin followed with an RBI double to right, and Willy Garcia made it five consecutive run-scoring hits with an RBI single to centre.
“Really good game today,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “Really good start to the series. Offence came out terrific early in the game. The guys have a lot of confidence when Mitch is pitching. Ever since we left Lincoln, the top of the order has been really good. We shuffled the deck and moved some guys around, and those guys are getting on base and making things happen with their legs.”
Martin tied a franchise single-game record with his third double of the night with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Two batters later, Dominic Ficociello doubled to left-centre to score Martin with the Goldeyes’ 10th run. All nine Goldeyes’ starters had at least one base hit.
Devan Ahart’s RBI single in the top of the fifth made it 10-3 Goldeyes, and the RedHawks went on to load the bases with no outs. Goldeyes’ starter Mitchell Lambson then retired the next three hitters in a row without allowing any further runs.
“That was a pivotal point in the game,” said Forney. “They very easily could have put a crooked number up. It could have made things more difficult. Mitch is a veteran pitcher and knows how to navigate those situations. For him to minimize there is a big difference in the ball game.”
Abercrombie drove in the Goldeyes’ 11th and final run with a two-out, infield single in the bottom of the eighth.
Lambson (8-2) picked up the win, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits over seven innings. Lambson walked two and struck out nine. It was the 10th time in 14 starts this season that Lambson has pitched at least seven innings.
Tyler Garkow worked two scoreless innings in relief of Lambson to close out the victory.
Bret Helton (3-4) started for the RedHawks (41-24) and took the loss, allowing nine earned runs on 10 hits in one and one-third innings. Helton walked one and struck out none.
The series concludes Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at Shaw Park. Joel Bender (1-2, 3.15) faces right-hander Ryan Williams (4-0, 2.57). Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.
For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com.
By Steve Schuster