Wes Darvill Delivers Walk-Off Home Run to Give Goldeyes 5-4 Victory
For eight innings Tuesday night, St. Paul Saints starter Mark Hamburger was dominating the Winnipeg Goldeyes, but one inning proved to be his demise. Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Winnipeg was able to pull within one run before Wes Darvill hit the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer to win the game. That extended the Saints woes, giving them eight losses in their last nine, and moving them two-games behind Winnipeg in the North Division of the American Association.
Winnipeg jumped out in front against Hamburger in the bottom of the second. Reggie Abercrombie let off the inning with a base hit and moved to second on a single by David Bergin two batters later. Wes Darvill grounded down to first, but an error allowed him to reach, loading the bases with one down. Next up was Monday night’s hero, Mason Katz, who delivered a sacrifice fly to score Abercrombie and give the Goldeyes a 1-0 lead.
Kevin McGovern started for Winnipeg and he kept St. Paul off the scoreboard for the first three innings. However, in the fourth the Saints would tie the score. Anthony Gallas tripled to center field with one out, and Nate Hanson followed with a double that brought home Gallas to tie the game at one.
In the seventh, St. Paul took the lead. Tony Thomas led off with a double, and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Kes Carter. Maxx Garrett was intentionally walked to put runners at the corners. With two down, Ben Buerkle lined a single into right field that scored Thomas and the Saints were up 2-1.
They extended that lead to two in the next frame. With one down, Gallas drilled his 14th home run of the season to put St. Paul up 3-1.
The way that Hamburger had been pitching that looks like plenty enough support to help get the Saints on the winning side of the ledger. However, in the bottom of the ninth, the Winnipeg Goldeyes would pull out the huge come from behind victory. Josh Romanski, Abercrombie, and Shawn Pleffner led off the inning with three straight singles, with Pleffner’s hit bringing Romanski around to score. Hamburger was able to strike out Bergin, but Darvill brought the crowd to their feet by drilling his third home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave the Winnipeg Goldeyes the 5-3 victory.
Reggie Abercrombie finished 2-4 with 2-runs for Winnipeg. Anthony Gallas was 2-4 with 2-runs and an RBI.
The final contest of this three-game set is a late morning affair. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05.
By Robert Pannier