First Loss of the Season Comes in Lincoln
May 26, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
In baseball, no matter how good you've been, you will eventually run into a pitcher or two with command of his best stuff.
Saturday night in Lincoln, Neb., the Winnipeg Goldeyes ran head on into Lincoln Saltdogs starter Matt Bywater and their eight-game season-opening winning streak came to an abrupt end.
Bywater pitched seven complete innings and allowed only one run on just three hits, while the Saltdogs put up single runs in the third and fourth and two more in the eighth and beat the Goldeyes 4-1.
It's the first time the Goldeyes have lost since the final game of the 2012 regular season. Counting last year's six-game playoff sweep, the Goldeyes had won 14 straight games and were off to an 8-0 start to open the 2013 campaign - all eight of those wins had come on a season-opening road trip to Grand Prairie, Amarillo and Lincoln.
"You're bound to lose a game eventually," Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea told Paul Edmonds on the TSN 1290 post-game show. "But you really couldn't ask for a better start. We just have to come out tomorrow and start a new streak."
The Goldeyes were held to only three hits as Lincoln relievers P.J. Zocchi in the eighth and R.J. Rodriguez in the ninth shut down Winnipeg with no runs and four strikeouts.
Winnipeg scored its only run in the second inning when Tim Smith hit a monster home run to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead. Smith, Josh Mazzola and Luis Alen were the only Goldeyes to get hits against three Lincoln pitchers.
"We came out and got an early lead and our starter Pete Gehle was pretty good," said Vermilyea philosophically. Overall it wasn't a terrible game. Obviously we scored just one run and it's going to be tough to win when you do that, but their starter pitched a great game. He had command of all his pitches and kept us off balance all night and you just have to tip your cap."
Bywater got the win and improved to 1-1 while Rodriguez picked up his fourth save. Gehle was the hard-luck loser, falling to 1-1.
"We've been on the road for two weeks now and guys are getting tired, no doubt about it," said Vemilyea. "But, it doesn't matter all that much, we'll get back out there tomorrow and do it again."
Rookie Alex Capaul will start on Sunday, as the 8-1 Goldeyes wrap up their 10-game road swing.
Winnipeg returns home to face the Laredo Lemurs in a three-game, home-opening series starting Monday night at Shaw Park. Veteran Matt Rusch, who flew home to Winnipeg on Saturday, will get the start for Winnipeg on Monday night.
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