By Doug Greenwald, Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, MB – Four in a row is the proper phrase describing the Winnipeg Goldeyes (34-45) and pitcher Landen Bourassa (8-5) as both have won four straight in an 8-2 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on Saturday night at Shaw Park. Bourassa pitched a professional best eight innings. He allowed six hits, two runs (both earned) while walking two, and striking out three. During his four-game streak he’s defeated Fargo-Moorhead twice. This season against the RedHawks he’s 2-0 and has given up three runs in 15 2/3 innings (1.72 ERA) and is 4-0 lifetime against them including the post-season last year.

Box Score

The Goldeyes scored one run in the second inning. With one out, catcher Chris Burgess doubled, and scored on a two-out single by left fielder Najee Gaskins. In the third, the Goldeyes added a run on a single by designated hitter Miles Simington. He has seven RBIs over the first two games of this series.

Winnipeg broke the game open adding three runs in the fifth as it loaded the bases with one out for Burgess. He came through with a two-run double to centre while first baseman Hidekel Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly to centre making it 5-0.

Fargo-Moorhead tightened the gap to 5-2 on a two-run homer to left field in the eighth by designated hitter Scott Schreiber (8). However, the Goldeyes answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Gaskins walked, centre fielder Javeyan Williams doubled moving Gaskins to third. Following them was second baseman Brynn Martinez who blooped a single to right giving Winnipeg a 7-2 advantage. Third baseman Dayson Croes came up after Martinez and contributed with an RBI double to right which made it 8-2.

The Goldeyes have won all four games on this homestand and have won five-of-six. Through the first two games of the series have scored 24 runs on 27 hits and during this streak, Winnipeg has outscored its opponents 34-13.

Winnipeg goes for the homestand sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1:00. The probables are left-hander Kevin McGovern (7-7) for Fargo-Moorhead and Winnipeg right-hander Luis Ramirez (5-6).

GOLDEYES SCALES

Croes had three hits and has an eight-game hitting streak (15-31, .484). He’s hit safely in 17-of-his-last-18 games (29-70, .414). Croes’ average sits at .354 which is second in the American Association. It was his eighth game of at least three hits this year (seven three-hit/one four-hit game). He’s second in the league in hits with 107

Williams’ two doubles broke an 0-16 drought

All nine Goldeyes in the starting lineup had at least a hit

Chas Cywin pitched a scoreless ninth. He’s allowed just three runs in his last 24 innings (1.13 ERA)

Right fielder Max Murphy had two hits, and his hit streak is at six (8-22, .364)