Fish Can't Hold Lead, Drop Another Day Game
August 23, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
The Winnipeg Goldeyes couldn't hold a 5-3 lead on Sunday afternoon. Now they're 2-9 in day games this season.
Goldeyes starter Tony Smith and reliever Brad Mincey combined to give up four runs in the bottom of the sixth - right after the Fish had taken a 5-3 lead - as the Ottawa Champions came back to beat Winnipeg 7-6 and salvage the final game of this three-game set at RCGT stadium.
It was a devastating loss for the Goldeyes, who had cut Laredo's lead in the wild card race to five games with a big win on Saturday night. On Sunday, however, the Fish had their three-game winning-streak halted and they fell to 40-46 on the season. They also lost another day game, a thorn in their side all season long.
"We gave ourselves a chance to come back and win in the final inning," said Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea. "But they (Ottawa) strung together four two-out hits in a row in the sixth and then we booted a ball and that cost us the game.
"Tony Smith threw the ball really well. He left a curve ball up to Sebastien Boucher, a real good hitter, who hit that two-run homer in the fifth, but he gave us 5 2/3 innings on three-days rest."
The Goldeyes opened the scoring in the top of the first when Casio Grider led off the game with a double and scored on a single by the red-hot Reggie Abercrombie.
Ottawa answered in the bottom of the first, but the Goldeyes took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. With two out, Josh Mazzola doubled and then Tillman Pugh followed with a double to drive home Mazzola. However, with Pugh on second, Luis Alen hit a sharp line drive up the middle and headed for centre field. However, it hit the third base umpire Dustin Dragsdale and went into centre. Pugh scored, but Dragsdale called the play dead and sent Pugh back to second, giving Alen first base on a single. Ryan Babineau then popped out to end the inning. Pugh's non-run would come back to haunt the Goldeyes later.
Ottawa answered with two in the bottom of the fourth off Goldeyes starter Smith, but the Fish scored three in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. Abercrombie led off with a single, bit was thrown out at second when Casey Haerther was safe at first on a fielder's choice. Mazzola then doubled to send Haerther to third and after Pugh struck out, Luis Alen was walked intentionally. Ryan Babineau then had a routine ground ball booted by Ottawa third baseman Nick Giarraputo and while Haerther scored, the bases remained loaded. That's when James Boddicker singled to drive home two runs and give the Fish a 5-3 lead.
But Ottawa scored four in the bottom of the sixth - all with two out and the final two came across on a throwing error by shortstop Casio Grider -- and their seven runs held up. The Goldeyes scored a run in the ninth on an RBI single by Abercrombie, but even though they had runners on the corners with only one out, they couldn't score the equalizer as Haerther struck out and Mazzola flied to centre to end the game.
The Goldeyes finished with six runs on 10 hits, while Ottawa had seven runs on 12 hits. Abercrombie led the way for the Goldeyes again, going three-for-five with two RBI. Mazzola was two-for-five with two runs scored. Boddicker was two-for-four with two RBI.
Ottawa starter Laetten Galbraith (1-2, 4.03 ERA) earned the victory, while Winnipeg reliever Brad Mincey (0-6, 4.82 ERA) was handed the loss. Ottawa veteran Alan DeRatt (2.25 ERA) picked up his 21 st save.
The Goldeyes will now head to Quebec City to take on Les Capitals in a three-game series beginning Monday night at 6:05. Right-hander Matt Jackson (7-8, 4.97 ERA) will get the start for Winnipeg and just like Smith, he'll pitch on just three days rest. The game can be heard live on The Jewel 100.5 with Steve Schuster at the microphone.
The Goldeyes return home from this 10-game road trip on Thursday and will open a four-game series at Shaw Park, beginning on Friday night at 7:05 against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Tickets for all Goldeyes home games in 2015 are available through Ticketmaster by clicking on Goldeyes.com, calling 1-855-GOLDEYE or visiting any Ticketmaster location, including the Shaw Park box office.
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