Fish strike early, cruise to victory
July 31, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
The Winnipeg Goldeyes have shown no mercy to left-handed starting pitchers in the American Association this season. Sioux Falls Canaries southpaw Matt Wickswat was the latest to feel their wrath.
The Goldeyes (44-26) built a 9-0 lead and hung on to defeat the Canaries (25-46) 10-7 Thursday night before 3,361 fans at Sioux Falls Stadium in South Dakota.
"The guys came out swinging the bats really well," Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea said on the Jewel 101 post-game show. "They had a pitcher out there that was throwing a lot of balls. He was effectively wild here and there, but they waited until they got their pitch and put good swings on it."
With the win, Winnipeg increases its lead in the American Association's North Division to 3 ½ games over the St. Paul Saints. It also improved the Goldeyes record to 11-1 against left-handed starting pitchers.
The Goldeyes pounced on Wickswat early. After Brock Bond drew a leadoff walk in the top of the first inning, Josh Mazzola hit a two-run home run.
An inning later, Bond doubled Winnipeg's lead with a two-run double and the Goldeyes added two more runs thanks to miscues by Canaries infielders.
Casey Haerther hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the fifth and Winnipeg capitalized on another Sioux Falls error later in the inning to take an 8-0 lead.
Down 9-0, the Canaries broke the shutout in the bottom of the sixth when AJ Kirby-Jones cracked a three-run home run off Goldeyes starter Ethan Hollingsworth.
After the Goldeyes scored a run in the top of the ninth inning, Sioux Falls scored four times in the bottom of the ninth, partly due to an error by Winnipeg right fielder Josh Mazzola on a fly ball with the bases loaded, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the game.
Haerther boosted his league-leading batting average to .399 by going four-for-five with a home run and RBI in the game.
Hollingsworth improved his record to a perfect 6-0 by pitching 7 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out four.
"He went out there and threw a lot of strikes," Vermilyea said. "He had a good two-seamer going, threw his off-speed stuff for strikes and getting it over (the plate) when he had to."
Wickswat threw 125 pitches in a losing effort.
The third game of the four-game series goes Friday night. Chris Salamida (5-3, 3.33) will toe the rubber for Winnipeg against Kyle Ruwe (5-5, 6.77) from Sioux Falls.
The pre-game show on Jewel 101 (100.7 FM) with Steve Schuster begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
Tickets for all 2014 Winnipeg Goldeyes games 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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American Association Stories from July 31, 2014
- Big Inning Saves T-Bones - Kansas City Monarchs
- Team Effort Helps Nuts Knock off Saints 9-3 - Wichita Wingnuts
- Fish strike early, cruise to victory - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Bullpen Struggles as Cats Fall to T-Bones - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Saints' Home Win Streak Snapped at Eight with 9-3 Loss to Wingnuts - St. Paul Saints
- Canaries lose 10-7 - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Lemurs Home Tonight - Laredo Lemurs
- Uber Saints Promotions After All-Star Break During July 31-August 2 Homestand - St. Paul Saints
- RailCats Open Post Break with 6-3 Win Behind Hopkins - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Explorers Falter in Series Opener - Sioux City Explorers
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
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