Goldeyes Cap Season with Four-Game Winning Streak
September 7, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
It was a long, tough season for the Winnipeg Goldeyes, but it ended with a bang.
On Sunday, in the final game of the 2015 campaign at Shaw Park, Casio Grider hit two home runs, Josh Mazzola hit his league leading 20th long fly of the year and Reggie Abercrombie and Ryan Babineau hit solo shots as the Goldeyes whipped the Lincoln Saltdogs 13-7.
With the victory, the Goldeyes finished with a 47-52 record in 2015 and a record of 22-27 mark at home. The Fish finished the season with four straight wins and while they missed the playoffs, they wrapped up second place in the North Division.
"It didn't go the way we wanted it to go, but in the end it was a really satisfying season," said first baseman Casey Haerther, who was named to the American Association all-star team along with leftfielder Adam Heisler. "I enjoyed the guys, I love playing in Winnipeg and I hope I can come back next season and win a championship to give this city and this organization what it deserves."
On Monday afternoon, the Goldeyes started early and didn't stop. While starter Tony Smith held the Saltdogs to just two runs through the first five innings, the Goldeyes pounded out both hits and homers.
With Lincoln up 2-0 after the top of the first, the Goldeyes answered with three in the bottom half as Luis Alen walked and Grider hit a two-run shot. Abercrombie followed with a solo homer and the Goldeyes had a 3-2 lead.
In the third, the Fish did more damage. Rookie James Boddicker led off with a double and Grider singled him home to make it 4-2. Then after Grider, stole second, Casey Haerther walked and team MVP Mazzola pounded out his 20 th homer of the campaign. It was a three-run shot that made the score 7-2.
After Lincoln pulled to within one at 7-6 through the top of the sixth, the Goldeyes answered with three more in the bottom of the sixth as Boddicker singled, went to second and third on passed balls and then after Alen walked and stole second, Abercrombie singled with two out to score both Boddicker and Alen. The next batter, Casey Haerther doubled to score Abercrombie and it was suddenly 10-6.
Babineau hit his first homer of the year - in his final at bat of the season -- in the seventh to make it 11-6 and then in the eighth, Grider hit his second homer of the game to make it 12-6 and then Abercrombie doubled, went to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to make it 13-6.
Lincoln scored a run in the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out when closer Jailen Peguero came on and got slugger C.J. Ziegler to ground into a double play on the first pitch he threw.
The Goldeyes finished with 13 runs on 12 hits while the Saltdogs had seven runs on 13 hits. Grider was the player of the game, going four-for-five with a stolen base, two homers, a double, three runs scored and four RBI. He raised his final batting average to .303. Abercrombie went three-for-five with a stolen base, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI and raised his average to .318. Boddicker went two-for-four with two runs scored and Mazzola had one big hit, the at league-leading homer, and three RBI.
Smith (4-4, 4.96 ERA) earned the win while Saltdogs starter Jesse Smith (3-10, 5.93 ERA) was tagged with the loss. Goldeyes reliever Brendan Lafferty set an American Association record with his 58th appearance of the season. He came on in the eighth and struck out the side.
It was Fan Appreciation Day and Trophy Day at the ballpark. Mazzola won the Budweiser Award as Player of the Year while Heisler won the Tear the Cover off the Ball Trophy presented by the University of Winnipeg as the Goldeyes batting champion.
"We're going to work hard in the off-season to put together a team that will, hopefully, win another championship," said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney in his final season-ending speech to the fans. "This organization is so professional and you fans are just so great, you deserve the best we can put on the field."
American Association Stories from September 7, 2015
- Two Best Teams in American Association History Get Set for Semi-Final Playoff Showdown - St. Paul Saints
- Goldeyes Cap Season with Four-Game Winning Streak - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Season Ends on High Note in 9-7 Win over KC - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Van Stratten Named League Player of the Week - Wichita Wingnuts
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Birds Finish 2015 Season with 5-1 Win over Joplin on Labor Day - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Wingnuts Close Regular Season with 4-2 Victory - Wichita Wingnuts
- Saints Finish Historic Regular Season 74-26 with 11-2 Rout of Jackals, Playoffs Begin Wednesday - St. Paul Saints
- Blasters Finish Season with Loss at Sioux Falls - Joplin Blasters
- Carl's Complete Game Earns Him Pitcher of the Week - AA
- Wingnuts' Van Stratten Named Player of the Week - AA
- Saints Bring in the Hardware, DiFazio, Songco Named American Association Postseason All-Stars - St. Paul Saints
- Heisler, Mazzola and Haerther Selected All-Stars - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Saints, Goldeyes, Explorers Well-Represented On League All-Star Team - AA
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