Winnipeg Goldeyes Prove They Learned Lessons, Beat Wichita Wingnuts 5-1: Wingnuts Wire
After watching the Wichita Wingnuts school them for the last three nights, the Winnipeg Goldeyes finally got into the win column, beating the team from Kansas 5-1. The win not only broke a four-game losing streak, but since the St. Paul Saints lost, it improved their lead in the division to three games.
The Goldeyes scored early to take the lead, something they had done in each of the previous three games, but this time they did something they had not done in the past three – respond when scored upon. This is what they did in the third.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Tyler Kuhn, the Goldeyes soon found themselves tied as that pesky duo of Ryan Khoury and Jake Kahaulelio generated a run for the Wingnuts. Khoury walked with one out and scored when Kahaulelio doubled to the wall. The game had the look of the previous three where Winnipeg would jump out to an early, lead only to see it evaporate into a loss late. Not today though.
The Goldeyes responded immediately, plating a run of their own in the bottom of the third. Jake Blackwood singled to lead off the inning and moved to second one out later on a single by Casey Haerther. Reggie Abercrombie then singled up the middle off of Tim Brown, and the Goldeyes were right back on top. This was a lead that starter Chris Salamida was not going to relinquish.
Salamida had his fifth great start out of his last six, holding the mighty Wingnuts to five hits and one run, while striking out eight in going the distance. Of his 123 pitches, 82 were strikes and he faced just 34 batters in the game. Wichita is used to being the ones teaching how to make outstanding starts, but this day it was Salamida providing the seminar.
The game remained close until the sixth. Reggie Abercrombie reached first to lead off the inning on an error by Khoury and scored two outs later when Luis Alen hit his fifth home run of the year. A three run cushion was plenty for Salamida, and he continued to work the plate, keeping the Wingnuts hitters off balance.
It is usually the duo of Khoury and Kahaulelio that demonstrate how the table-setters set the tempo for the game, but tonight it was Brock Bond and Jake Blackwood taking a page out of the “Wingnuts Guide to Winning” that made the difference. Bond went 3-2 with a walk and two runs scored, and Blackwood was 3-4 with a run scored. The Wingnuts usually win with the Double-K’s at the top of their order, but tonight it was the Double-B’s setting the stage for the victory for Winnipeg.
The loss ended Wichita’s win streak at seven games, and now the team moves onto Lincoln to face the suddenly hot Saltdogs. So far, teams that have had playoff aspirations have not fared well against Kansas’ best team. St. Paul lost two of three and Winnipeg lost three of four. Lincoln needs at least two of these games at home to stay in the race in the Central Division.
By Robert Pannier
Senior Baseball Editor
Member of the IBWAA