Goldeyes Rally Late to Down Railroaders, 8-6
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (14-7) beat the Cleburne Railroaders 8-6 at Shaw Park on Friday night.
Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Dominic Ficociello battled Railroaders’ starter Charles Gillies for 10 pitches before reaching on a leadoff error charged to first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez. A wild pitch moved Ficociello to second base. Alex Perez lined a single to centre, and Ficociello came home when the ball was bobbled by Zach Nehrir. On the next pitch, Kevin Garcia ripped a two-run home run to right that pulled the Goldeyes within 6-5.
After Marcus Crescentini pitched a perfect top of the eighth, the Goldeyes rallied for three more runs in the bottom half to take their first lead of the night. Willy Garcia drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Garcia took second on a passed, ball, third on a wild pitch, and scored the tying run when Reggie Abercrombie chopped a single to left over a drawn in Railroaders’ infield. Ficociello was robbed on a long drive to centre when Nehrir made a sprinting catch for the second out of the inning. Abercrombie then stole second base before Perez walked on a full count. Kevin Garcia ripped a groundball to third that was stopped by a diving KC Huth. Huth’s ensuing throw to first went into foul territory and allowed Abercrombie to score the go-ahead run. Rodriguez then made a wild throw to second on the same play that allowed Perez to score the Goldeyes’ eighth run.
Victor Capellan struck out two during a scoreless top of the ninth to earn his eighth save of the year. It was Capellan’s 37th save since joining the Goldeyes in 2016, which ties him with Steve Thomas (2001-03) for the franchise’s all-time record.
Crescentini (3-0) earned the win in relief, while Hayden Shenefield (0-2) took the loss for Cleburne.
The Railroaders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when John Nester lifted a two-out, solo home run to left-centre.
In the top of the third, Huth led off with a solo shot to left. Later in the inning, Kenny Meimerstorf hit a two-out, RBI single that scored Nehrir to make it 3-0.
The Goldeyes cut the deficit to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Josh Romanski singled to centre leading off and took third when Willy Garcia doubled down the left field line. Kyle Martin singled home Romanski, while Garcia scored on a wild pitch.
The Railroaders re-extended their lead to 6-2 in the top of the sixth on a two-out, three-run homer down the left field line from Huth.
Mitchell Lambson started for the Goldeyes and took a no-decision, allowing six earned runs on eight hits in seven innings. Lambson walked four and struck out two.
Gillies also took a no-decision, allowing five runs, four earned, on 10 hits in six-plus innings. Gillies walked none and struck out four.
The series continues Saturday evening at 6:05 p.m. Ryan Johnson (1-0, 0.71) takes on right-hander Jesus Sanchez (2-2, 4.88). 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
