WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (31-25) beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-3 at Shaw Park on Wednesday night.

Box Score

Wes Darvill scored the game’s first run from second base on an errant pickoff throw by Canaries’ starting pitcher Luis Pollorena.

In the bottom of the second, Willy Garcia led off with a double off the wall in centre field.  Three batters later, Alex Perez lined a two-out single to left that scored Garcia.  Cody Young followed with an opposite-field double to right that scored Perez from first.

“The game went well today,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney.  “We got a good start from Parker.  He gave us six really good innings.  We probably could have sent him out there for the seventh.  He was throwing the ball well.  Offensively, it went really well.  A lot of guys had big days.”

The Goldeyes stretched the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the third.  An infield single from Darvill and walks to James Harris and Willy Garcia loaded the bases with one out.  Dominic Ficociello launched a double to left that scored Darvill and Harris.  After Reilly Hovis relieved Pollorena, Reggie Abercrombie smacked a two-run triple to right-centre that made it 7-0.

With two outs and no one on base in the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Hill singled to left to push his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games.  On the next pitch, Darvill crushed a two-run home run to right-centre.

Parker French (3-3) started for the Goldeyes and earned the win, pitching six shutout innings on four hits.  French walked one and struck out five.

“We don’t need (the starters) to go seven, eight, or nine innings,” Forney said.  “Just six good ones and see where we are from there.  It only takes one good start to get you on a roll, so hopefully that was Parker’s good start.”

Pollorena (4-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits in two and one-third innings.  Pollorena walked three and struck out three.

The Canaries (27-29) scored all three of their runs with two outs in the top of the ninth on a two-run double from Kevin Taylor and an RBI single from Alay Lago.

Joel Bender pitched two scoreless innings in relief of French.  The Goldeyes have scored nine or more runs four times in the last five games.

 The series concludes Thursday night at 6:05 p.m.  Kevin McGovern (8-3, 3.93) faces right-hander Alex Boshers (4-2, 5.98).  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