Goldeyes Come back in Extra Innings Win
Published on August 6, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
With an extra-inning rally, the Winnipeg Goldeyes came from behind and kept their wild card hopes alive.
The Goldeyes scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie the game and three runs in the 11th to win it as the Fish beat the Gary SouthShore Railcats 7-4 at U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind.
This was a game that the RailCats appeared to have in the bag until the league's leading home run hitter, Josh Mazzola, hit a two-run bomb in the eighth to tie it at 4-4, Then, while the Goldeyes bullpen bent, but didn't break, the Fish scored three in the 11th to come back and win a game after the seventh inning for only the second time this season.
With the victory, Winnipeg snapped a two-game losing streak and won the opener of a three-game series in Gary. The Goldeyes improved to 32-36, have won eight of their last 10 and are still alive in the American Association wild xard hunt.
It was the fourth time that the Goldeyes have played a game using the international rule this season - each team starts any inning after the 10th with a runner on second base and nobody out -- and the Goldeyes have won every time. And this time the Fish took advantage of a mistake and a couple of clutch hits.
With Brad Boyer starting the 11th on second, Luis Alen laid down a bunt in an attempt to move Boyer to third. However, Gary reliever Matt Solter threw the ball past first baseman Jaime Del Valle sending Boyer home and Alen to second. Then with Alen on third and two out, Adam Hesiler singled to centre to score Alen and then Tillman Pugh doubled into the leftfield corner and Heisler scored all the way from first.
The Goldeyes took a 7-4 lead on three unearned runs.
"We took advantage of a costly error in the 11th inning by their pitcher and then got a couple of solid two-out hits," said Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea. "(Starter) Matt Jackson gave us a chance to win and our bullpen pitched six-plus innings for us. Jailen Peguero pitched two big innings and then Brendan Lafferty came out in the ninth and shut them down. Our bullpen did a helluva job."
The Goldeyes opened the scoring in the top of the first as Adam Heisler walked, stole second and scored on an error by Gary third baseman Roger Bernal.
Gary took a 2-1 in lead the fourth but the Fish answered in the top of the fifth when Heisler singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a single by Casey Haerther.
However, Gary took a 4-2 lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth, but then, the eighth, Hearther walked and with one out Mazzola his his 18th home run of the season.
The Goldeyes finished with seven runs on 10 hits while Gary had four runs on 10 hits. Heisler had a big night with two hits on four trips, two stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI. Pugh was two-for-six with an RBI; Haerther was one-for-four with a run scored and an RBI; Mazzola had two hits, two RBI and a run scored; and Boyer had two hits and a run scored.
Goldeyes reliever Jailen Peguero (3-2, 4.06 ERA) got credit for the win while Brendan Lafferty (3.55 ERA) picked up his second save of the season. Gary reliever Matt Solter (0-2, 3.65 ERA) was tagged with the loss..
The Goldeyes and Gary will play Game 2 of this three-game series on Thursday night in Gary, Ind., Lefthander Kyle Anderson (3-5, 5.40 ERA) will get the start for the Goldeyes. Righthander Charlie Rosario (10-5, 3.29 ERA) will take to the hill for Gary.
The game can be heard live on The Jewel 100.5 with Steve Schuster at the microphone.
The Goldeyes will play complete this series in Gary on Friday night and then play 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.
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- 'Cats Can't Sustain Late Lead, Lose in Extras - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Goldeyes Come back in Extra Innings Win - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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