By Doug Grenwald, Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, MB – Lincoln Saltdogs (18-17) center fielder Nick Anderson (12) belted a two-run homer to right field in top of the seventh which lifted the visitors to a 6-5 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes (13-23) on Thursday at Shaw Park.  It was Lincoln’s first sweep ever at this stadium while Winnipeg has been swept in back-to-back home series and overall has six straight losses at Shaw Park.

Box Score

The game started well for Winnipeg.  After singles by third baseman Dayson Croes and shortstop Andy Armstrong, right fielder Max Murphy (9) blasted a three-run homer to left-center field which made it 3-0 Goldeyes after one.  The Goldeyes tacked on a run in the third which made it 4-0 on a single by first baseman Tommy McCarthy.

However, in the top of the fourth, things would change.  The Saltdogs began their rally on a single with one out by right fielder Carson Maxwell.  That served as a four-run springboard.  Following Maxwell it was a single by second baseman Nate Samson, an RBI double for left fielder Aaron Takacs, and a run-producing ground out by catcher Marshall Awtry which made it 4-2 Winnipeg.  Designated hitter Zane Zurbrugg was hit by a pitch with two out and what was a theme in this series, it was the two-out two-run double by Lincoln which made the difference.  The first two nights it was first baseman Yanio Perez , but this time it was shortstop Drew Devine who tied the game in the fourth on the two-run two bagger.  All the runs in the fourth were against Winnipeg starter Marc-André Habeck.

It stayed tied 4-4 going to the seventh.  Winnipeg reliever Chas Cywin (1-2) came on and allowed a single by Devine before Anderson’s homer.  It was the second straight game where Cywin was defeated and both games (6/18 @ Kane County) where he came in in the seventh with the identical score and issued a two-run homer.

Despite the rocky first, Lincoln starter Josh Roeder  (2-4) earned the win.  He gave up ten hits over 6 2/3 innings.  The right-hander allowed five runs (all earned), walked one and struck out three.

Habeck went a season-high for him six innings.  He struck out six (personal season high), gave up eight hits, and four runs (all earned).

In addition to the home woes, Winnipeg is 2-9 since sweeping Chicago two weeks ago.

The Gary SouthShore RailCats come to Winnipeg for a scheduled three-game series starting  Friday with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.  Left-hander Chris Erwin :(2-4) will start for Gary SouthShore against Winnipeg left-hander RJ Martinez (3-1).

GOLDEYES SCALES

It was Murphy’s third four RBI game of the season. He was responsible for seven of the nine Goldeyes RBIs in the series.

Murphy and Armstrong had three hits.  It was Murphy’s fifth three-hit game and Armstrong’s fourth in 2023

Winnipeg had 12 hits and 10 singles.  The Goldeyes in each of the last two games have had ten singles.  Overall in those contests, 22 hits–20 singles

Croes had a single, giving him nine hits over the last four games.  He maintains his American Association lead in batting average at .376

The prior time Winnipeg lost six straight home games was last year when the club dropped seven straight in August; one game to Sioux City and six straight against Kansas City
-Goldeyes-