AA Winnipeg Goldeyes

Fish Suffer Series Loss

Published on August 3, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release


The Winnipeg Goldeyes put a bit of a damper on their playoff hopes.

Despite two-run home runs by Casio Grider and Tillman Pugh, the Goldeyes simply couldn't solve the Kansas City T-Bones pitching staff and fell 7-5 on a beautiful holiday Monday afternoon at Shaw Park.

Things were so bad for the Goldeyes that Reggie Abercrombie struck out four times and Pugh, despite his majestic home run that cleared the street behind the leftfield wall, struck out twice. In the end, four T-Bones pitchers combined to strike out 11 Goldeyes.

"We just didn't get very many good at bats," said a disappointed Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. "Nick (Hernandez) got off to a slow start and just didn't have his command early and you have to tip your cap to Kansas City, they had some really good at bats and were able to manufacture some early runs and extend innings.

"But give Nick credit, he was able to put up four straight zeroes and allow us to score four runs with two outs in the fifth on those two big home runs. It got us back into it. But overall, we have five weeks left and we need to start getting better at bats."

As Forney pointed out, Winnipeg did not get off to a very good start. Ace left hander Nick Hernandez, who had just be named player of the month for July and player of the week ending August 2, was tagged for a run in the first and four in the second. It was 5-0 before the Goldeyes had sent their fifth batter to the plate.

However, down 5-0 with two-out in the fifth, the Goldeyes didn't quit. Chris Robinson walked and came home on a two-run blast by Casio Grider and then Adam Heisler singled and scored on a monstrous two-run blast into the river by Tillman Pugh.

However, Kansas City added single runs in the seventh and eighth and while Winnipeg scored in the bottom of the eighth -- Heisler doubled, stole third and scored on a ground out by Casey Haerther - it wasn't enough as Winnipeg lost the three-game set to the T-Bones 2-1.

With the loss, the Goldeyes fell to 31-36 on the season and now trail Kansas City by seven games in the wild card race. After a seven-game winning streak, the Fish have now lost two straight.

The Goldeyes did make it exciting in the ninth. After T-Bones closer Fernando Hernandez struck out the first two men he faced, Chris Robinson and Luis Alen both singled to put runners on first and second for Grider. With the winning run at the plate, however, Grider grounded out to short to end the game.

Kansas City finished with seven runs on 17 hits while the Goldeyes managed five runs on only seven hits. Pugh and Grider led the way their two-run homers. Heisler had a single and a double in four trips and scored two runs.

T-Bones reliever Joe Van Meter (3-3, 3.38 ERA) got the win, while Hernandez (8-4, 2.20 ERA) took the loss. Hernandez picked up his second straight save for Kansas City, his 14 th of the season.

The Goldeyes will now head to Gary, Ind., to open a three game series against the Gary SouthShore RailCats on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Right-hander Matt Jackson (6-6, 4.89 ERA) will get the start for the Goldeyes.

The Goldeyes will play three games in Gary and then three more in St. Paul before returning home on Aug. 11 to start a three-game series with Sioux Falls.

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.

Check out the Winnipeg Goldeyes Statistics

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American Association Stories from August 3, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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