By Doug Greenwald, Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, MB – There is still a chance for the post-season this year for the Winnipeg Goldeyes (40-52) and it was playoff-like atmosphere in a tension-packed contest at Shaw Park on Friday. However, the Kansas City Monarchs (54-36) came away with a 3-2 win in 13 innings. It was the longest game in terms of innings this year for both teams.

Box Score

Both starting pitchers were tremendous. Winnipeg’s Joey Matulovich allowed one run in nine innings with 12 strikeouts. The only blemish was the second batter of the game when Kansas City centre fielder Jan Hernandez (13) homered to left. After that, Matulovich retired the next 15 Monarchs. With the dozen strikeouts, that was a season-high for any Goldeyes hurler this year and a pro career most for Matulovich. It was the second time this year he’s struck out at least ten. Matulovich issued four hits and one walk. He is second in the American Association in strikeouts with 116.

Winnipeg’s only run in regulation was a fourth inning lead off homer by Andy Armstrong (2) which hit the right field pole. It was his first round-tripper over a fence this year – his other was inside the park. The homer in this game was given up by Kansas City starter Brandon Finnegan. He gave up one run (earned) in seven innings on two hits. The former Kansas City Royal had no walks and struck out seven.

The key play late in regulation came in the eighth with Goldeyes designated hitter Chris Burgess at second and centre fielder Tra Holmes at the plate. Holmes singled to centre but Hernandez’ throw to the plate nabbed Burgess who was out with a dive. A heated argument ensued as Goldeyes manager Greg Tagert and Burgess barked with plate umpire Mayhue Edwards, and while neither Goldeye was ejected that kept the game tied.

Neither team scored in the tenth while each plated a run in the 11th: Kansas City catcher Chris Herrmann delivered a two-out single while Winnipeg third baseman Dayson Croes led off with an RBI single. Both were silent in the 12th inning. But in the 13th, it was Monarchs shortstop L.J. Hatch who came through with a one-out single putting KANSAS CITY up 3-2. The Goldeyes had a great chance in the bottom of the inning. The courtesy runner at second – Brynn Martinez stole third which placed him there with nobody out but Grant Gavin (3) retired all three batters in order to end the game and earn the save.

Trey Jeans (6-0) worked the 12th and earned the win for Kansas City while Josh Vincent (0-2) pitched the final two innings for the Goldeyes and allowed the unearned run in defeat.

Game two of this series is Saturday night at 6:00 in Winnipeg. Kansas City right-hander Miller Hogan (1-2) is the scheduled starter for Kansas City and he’ll oppose Winnipeg lefty RJ Martinez (5-4).

GOLDEYES SCALES

Kansas City’s winning streak at Shaw Park is at ten. The last win by the Goldeyes against the Monarchs at this facility was May 19th, 2019.  Kansas City didn’t field a team in 2020 and in 2021, Winnipeg “hosted” Kansas City in Jackson, Tennessee. Kansas City won all the games here last season and are 4-0 in Winnipeg this season.

Winnipeg is 10-17 in one-run games and 5-4 in extra innings. Kansas City is 11-2 against Winnipeg in the season series, and three of those wins have come in extra innings.

The 12 punchouts for Matulovich are the most by a Goldeye since Josh Lucas‘ 13 on September 10th, 2020 – a game played at Milwaukee with Winnipeg as the home team.

All 13 position players were used by Winnipeg.

Reliever Chas Cywin pitched a scoreless tenth. He’s allowed five earned runs in his last 30 1/3 innings – 1.48 ERA in that span.

The nine innings for Matulovich match Travis Seabrooke for most in a game this year for Winnipeg. Seabrooke did that in his complete game shutout on June 26 at Lincoln.

The 13 innings match the most in the American Association this year. Kane County at home defeated Cleburne in a baker’s dozen on August 4th.