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AA Winnipeg Goldeyes

Goldeyes Experience a Rusch After Sweeping Fargo

June 10, 2012 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release


Following two stellar starting pitching performances in the first two games of their series against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Matt Rusch turned in possibly the Winnipeg Goldeyes' best pitching performance of the series Sunday afternoon.

Rusch went eight innings and led the Goldeyes (16-6) to a 4-3 win over the RedHawks (9-14) and a sweep in the three-game series before 2,822 cool and, at times, soggy customers at Newman Outdoor Field.

Rusch set a new season-high for the Goldeyes with nine strikeouts in the game and allowed just three hits.

"It was a good start and I really got into a tempo with (catcher Kyle) Day back there," Rusch said.

"It was an all-round good effort. When they did hit it hard, our defence was there to make the play."

Winnipeg's starters combined for 23.1 of the 27 innings that were played against Fargo during the weekend and allowed just three earned runs.

"We have a lot of pride on this pitching staff," Rusch said. "Coming into the weekend, we sat down and really went over the game plan. One thing we wanted to do was pitch a little bit better and I think we accomplished that the last three days."

The Goldeyes scored singles in the first and fourth innings to give Rusch a little run support and he kept the RedHawks off balance for the entire afternoon.

Josh Mazzola added insurance for Winnipeg in the top of the ninth inning when he smoked a Tom Boleksa offering over the centre field wall for a two-run home run, which is his fourth of the season.

After the home run, Boleksa was called for an illegal pitch after David Narodowski called time. Fargo's closer then promptly threw the following pitch behind Narodowski and was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Steve Linton.

That homer from Mazzola turned out to be the winning run, as the RedHawks tagged Goldeyes closer Nick Carr for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Carr, however, was able to get a fly out from Todd Jennings to end the game with the tying run on base.

It's the first time the Goldeyes have swept the RedHawks in Fargo since May of 2009 and Winnipeg now has an eight-game winning streak against Fargo dating back to last season.

The Goldeyes return home for a three-game set against the Lincoln Saltdogs, which begins tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. Lefty Fabian Williamson (1-3, 4.84) will start for Winnipeg against Lincoln's Justin Edwards (2-0, 7.23).

The pre-game show on TSN 1290 with Paul Edmonds begins at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

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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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