Goldeyes Lose Game, Series in St. Paul

August 9, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release

On Sunday night at CHS Field in St. Paul, the Winnipeg Goldeyes got off to another good start. Unfortunately for the Fish, they didn't finish quite as well.

Winnipeg left fielder Adam Heisler hit the fourth pitch he saw from St. Paul starter Pedro Hernandez over the short right field porch to give the Goldeyes a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, St. Paul scored one in the bottom of the first, three in the second and three more in the fourth as the Saints went on to beat the Goldeyes 8-5.

It was a devastating loss for the Fish, who will try to salvage one win in this series in the final game on Monday night. Winnipeg has now lost two straight games, fallen to 33-39 on the season, is 2-3 on this current six-game road trip and is now 7 ½ games back of Joplin in the American Association wild card hunt.

"We were putting runs up on the board early," said Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea, "but we couldn't keep St. Paul off the board. Tony (starter Smith) didn't have command of his fastball tonight and he just couldn't make pitches when he needed to."

"Tomorrow's a big game for us. We have to save this series and be in a good frame of mind going home."

The Goldeyes were in this one until the fourth.

After Heisler hit his fourth homer of the season -- and St. Paul answered with a run in the bottom of the first -- the Goldeyes took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second. Brad Boyer was safe on a fielder's choice, went to second on a ground out and scored on a single by Tillman Pugh.

St. Paul then scored three off Goldeyes starter Tony Smith in the second inning to take a 4-2 lead, but the Goldeyes answered with another run in the top of the third as Casio Grider hit a solo homer, his fourth of the season.

But when the Saints scored three in the fourth, the Goldeyes just didn't quite have enough. In the sixth, Heisler walked, went to second on a ground out and scored on a single by Casey Haerther and then in the top of the eighth, Boyer walked, went to second on a single by Luis Alen, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tillman Pugh, but that was it. The Saints bullpen settled in and Winnipeg fell to 1-5 in St. Paul this season.

The Goldeyes finished with five runs on nine hits, while St. Paul had eight runs on 11 hits. Heisler, who now leads the Goldeyes with a .334 batting average, led the Goldeyes by going two-for-four with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Haerther (now hitting .320) had two hits and an RBI. It was his team-leading 27th multi-hit game this season. Pugh was one-for-three with two RBI and Boyer had no hits but walked and scored twice.

Saints starter Hernandez (8-2, 3.96 ERA) got the win, while Smith suffered the loss (3-3, 4.55 ERA). Ryan Rodebaugh recorded his 19th save of the season.

The Goldeyes and Saints will play the final game of this three-game series on Monday night at 7 p.m. at CHS Field in St. Paul. Right-hander Matt Jackson (6-6, 4.93 ERA) will get the start for the Goldeyes while right-hander Robert Coe (7-3, 2.90) will take to the bump for St. Paul.

The game can be heard live on The Jewel 100.5 with Steve Schuster at the microphone or watched on Americanassociationbaseball.tv.

The Goldeyes return home to start a three-game series against the Sioux Falls Canaries on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Shaw Park. 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.

• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...

American Association Stories from August 9, 2015

• Blasters Bolt Past Wingnuts in Series Opener - Joplin Blasters
• Nuts Can't Hold Early Lead, Drop 12-8 Decision to Joplin - Wichita Wingnuts
• American Association Game Recaps - AA
• Goldeyes Lose Game, Series in St. Paul - Winnipeg Goldeyes
• Magic Number Shrinks to Four as Saints Win Ninth Straight 8-5 over Goldeyes - St. Paul Saints
• RedHawks Pile Runs on T-Bones - Kansas City Monarchs
• X's Make It Twelve Wins In A Row With 9-4 Victory At The Birdcage - Sioux City Explorers
• 'Dogs Come Back to Win in 11, Clinch Series - Lincoln Saltdogs
• 'Cats Blow Another Lead, Drop Series to Last-Place Lincoln - Gary SouthShore Railcats
• American Association Game Recaps - AA
• Young Infielder Smart Picked up by Wingnuts - Wichita Wingnuts
• AirHogs Outduel Lemurs - Grand Prairie AirHogs

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.

Other Recent Winnipeg Goldeyes Stories

• Thursday's Preseason Game at Fargo Cancelled
• Goldeyes Fall to RedHawks in Spring Debut
• Croes Headed to Giants' Organization
• Goldeyes Sign Former Big Leaguer, Canadian National Team Member Robson
• More Canadian Content: Goldeyes Trade for Slugging First Baseman Warkentin