Goldeyes Drop Fourth Straight in Loss to Railroaders
JACKSON, TN – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (12-18) lost 11-6 to the Cleburne Railroaders at The Ballpark at Jackson on Wednesday night.
With the Goldeyes leading 4-3 in the top of the fifth, the Railroaders (16-16) scored four runs to take the lead. Chase Simpson singled home Osvaldo Martinez with the tying run. Two batters later, Hunter Clanin reached on a two-out, infield single that drove in Ramon Hernandez with the lead run. Following a Goldeyes’ pitching change, pinch hitter Colton Pogue lined a two-run double down the right field line that scored Simpson and Clanin.
Cleburne added three runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run home run from Simpson and a Goldeyes’ throwing error that followed a double steal by Zach Nehrir and Clanin. Noah Vaughan tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh to make it 11-4.
The Goldeyes sliced the deficit to 11-6 in the bottom of the eighth on a Raul Navarro RBI groundout that plated Max Murphy. Kevin Lachance added a two-out, RBI single that brought home Kyle Martin.
Martin made his second pitching appearance of the season in the top of the ninth and struck out one in a scoreless frame.
Railroaders’ right-hander Taylor Wright pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to close out the game at 11-6.
The Railroaders took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Simpson lined a two-run double to centre field.
Winnipeg answered right back with the tying runs in the bottom of the inning. Tyler Hill doubled leading off and took third when Vaughan booted the ball down the left field line. Wes Darvill ripped a double off the glove of Railroaders first baseman Hernandez to drive home Hill. Darvill took third on a wild pitch and scored the tying run on a groundout to second from Murphy.
The Railroaders went in front 3-2 in the top of the third when Hernandez pulled a home run down the left field line.
In the bottom of the third, Murphy was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to second when Martin walked. Navarro crushed a double off the left field wall that scored Murphy, while Logan Hill drove a sacrifice fly to the warning track in centre field that ushered home Martin with the lead run.
Railroaders’ starter Garrett Alexander (3-4) picked up the win, allowing four earned runs on five hits in five innings. Alexander walked two and struck out five.
Pete Perez (1-1) started for the Goldeyes and took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits in four and two-thirds innings.
Murphy’s hitting streak ended at 16 games, which ties a career-high set in 2018 with the St. Paul Saints. Logan Hill had a nine-game hitting streak come to an end.
The series concludes Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. Joey Gonzalez (2-2, 7.24) faces left-hander Michael Gunn (2-2, 3.38). All the action can be heard locally on CJNU 93.7 FM and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca
The Goldeyes will continue to monitor the reopening of the Canada/US border and assess a potential return to Shaw Park in 2021.
In the coming weeks, Winnipeg Goldeyes staff will contact ticket holders with more information and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.