Matulovich Muzzles Saltdogs in Series Opener
By Doug Greenwald, Winnipeg Goldeyes
WINNIPEG, MB – Joey Matulovich (4-8) pitched seven shutout innings and struck out three helping lead the Winnipeg Goldeyes (31-45) to a 2-1 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs (37-38) on Tuesday night at Shaw Park.
The Winnipeg starter issued five hits while walking one. It was the second time this year Matulovich had outings of at least seven shutout innings. He has 95 strikeouts which is second in the American Association.
Winnipeg got on the board with a run in the third inning. Second baseman Brynn Martinez led off with a double. With two out, right fielder Max Murphy lined a double to right, scoring Martinez making it 1-0. Murphy has 64 RBIs – second in the American Association – while 16 of them have come against Lincoln this season. The Goldeyes made it 2-0 in the fifth as first baseman Hidekel Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Both Goldeyes runs were with two out.
The Goldeyes used three pitchers. Chas Cywin allowed a run in the eighth on a homer by Lincoln left fielder Luis Roman (2) to right field. In the ninth, Matt Leon (4) hit Saltdogs first baseman Jason Rogers with a pitch with one out. However, he retired the next two batters – designated hitter Yanio Perez, and centre fielder Nick Anderson both of whom represented the go-ahead run. It was Leon’s first save as a Goldeye.
Game two of this scheduled three-game series is Wednesday night at Shaw Park with a 6:30 first pitch. Left-hander David Holmberg (5-0) for Lincoln and southpaw RJ Martinez (4-3) for Winnipeg are the probables.
GOLDEYES SCALES
Third baseman Dayson Croes was 2-4. He has five straight multi-hit games (ten hits overall). He’s hit safely in 14-of-his-last-15 games (24-60, .400). Croes is the only Goldeye this year with five consecutive multi-hit contests.
Cywin has allowed three runs in his last 23 innings (1.17 ERA).
Leon’s last save prior to Tuesday was May 28th while with Gary SouthShore against Kane County.
Shortstop Andy Armstrong had two sacrifice bunts which gives him a league-best 18.
It was Winnipeg’s first win at home this year against Lincoln. The season series is 4-4.
In one-run games this year, Winnipeg is 9-14.
The time of the game was 2:07. The shortest nine-inning game for Winnipeg this year is 1:58, May 31st at Chicago.
