ROSEMONT, IL – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (24-14) beat the Chicago Dogs 7-5 at Impact Field on Friday night.

Box Score

Willy Garcia opened the scoring with a two-out, solo home run to left-centre in the top of the first.

After the Dogs took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on a two-run triple from Victor Roache, the Goldeyes answered back with three runs in the second to take the lead for good.  James Harris singled through the right side leading off and advanced to second when Wes Darvill walked.  After Kyle Martin grounded into a fielder’s choice to move Harris to third, Jordan Hovey drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly to centre during his first professional plate appearance.  On the next pitch, Kevin Garcia lined a two-run home run to right that made it 4-2 Winnipeg.

Tyler Hill was hit by a pitch leading off the third, stole second, took third on a groundball to first from Dominic Ficociello, and scored the Goldeyes’ fifth run on a two-out wild pitch.

With two outs and no one on base in the top of the fifth, Willy Garcia hit his second homer of the night, a solo shot to left that extended the lead to 6-2.  Ficociello and Harris followed with back-to-back singles.  After Josh Goossen-Brown relieved Dogs’ starter Wes Torrez, Darvill lined a single to right that scored Harris.

Chicago (18-19) cut the Goldeyes’ lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run to left from Edwin Arroyo.  Keon Barnum led off the bottom of the eight with a solo shot that pulled the Dogs within 7-5.

Victor Capellan worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth to earn his 15^th save.

Kevin McGovern (5-3) started for the Goldeyes and picked up the win, allowing four earned runs on six hits in five and one-third innings.  McGovern walked three and struck out five.

Torrez (0-2) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits in four and two-thirds innings.  Torrez walked one and struck out two.

Hovey picked up his first career hit with an infield single in the top of the fourth, and went on to steal his first career base.  Mitchell Aker worked one and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief.

Game two of the three-game series is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  Joel Seddon (1-0, 3.86) faces left-hander Jacob Dahlberg (2-2, 4.55).  All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca  Coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. with Around the Association.

The Goldeyes return for an eight-game homestand on Monday, July 1^st when they host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at 4:05 p.m.  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