Good Start, But Goldeyes Split with Champions
Published on July 5, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
Adam Heisler was the hero in Game 1 of a modified doubleheader at Shaw Park on Sunday afternoon. That was the good news.
Goldeyes pitching collapsed late in Game 2. That was the bad news.
At the end of the day, a day that lasted almost five full hours, the Winnipeg Goldeyes spilt a pair of games with the visiting Ottawa Champions. The Goldeyes came from behind to win the suspended game from Saturday night 4-3. Then the Champions came back from a 6-1 deficit in Game 2 to win 9-7.
Goldeyes reliever Brendan Lafferty won Game 1 and then took the loss in Game 2.
In Game 1, the completion of the suspended game from Saturday, Heisler, the Goldeyes centre fielder, went four-for-five with a run scored and two RBI. However, the run and the two RBI were the difference in the game.
Ottawa led 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday night when the Goldeyes put runners on first and second with one out. That's when the thunder, lightning and rain arrived in downtown Winnipeg and the game was suspended.
When the teams met again on Sunday afternoon to complete the game, the two teams went to the bottom of the seventh with Ottawa ahead by one. That's when Heisler hit an elevated changeup from reliever Laetton Galbraith over the rightfield fence to tie the game at 3-3.
Then, in the eighth, with Luis Alen on third, Heisler beat out an infield hit as Alen scored from third with the winning run.
Lafferty (2-1, 3.00 ERA), who pitched a scoreless inning in the eighth got the win, while Champions reliever Nick Purdy (0-1, 3.38 ERA) was tagged with the loss. Jailen Peguero (3.92 ERA) picked up his seventh save.
In Game 2, the Goldeyes jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead.
Casey Haerther doubled home a run in the first. Ryan Babineau knocked in a run with a double and Brady Wilson drove home a run with an infield single in the second. Haerther singled home a run in the third, as did Jon Weber. Then Chris Robinson singled home a run in the fourth. The Goldeyes seemed to have it in the bag with starter Coby Cowgill cruising along.
But then Cowgill gave up a three-run homer to Ottawa's Jon Talley in the fifth and the Champions exploded for four in the sixth. By the time Josh Mazzola hit a solo homer in the seventh, Ottawa had taken control.
The Champions finished with nine runs on 12 hits while the Goldeyes had seven runs on 10 hits. Rookie Chris Robinson led the Goldeyes with three hits in four trips. He also scored two runs and had a run batted in. Josh Mazzola went one-for-two with two walks, two RBI and two runs scored. And Casey Haerther went two-for-four with a run scored and an RBI and raised his batting average to .319.
Jon Weber went one-for-one with a walk, an RBI and also raised his average to a team-best .319. But Weber was also tossed from the game for arguing balls-and-strikes - on behalf of Chris Robinson. It was a strange afternoon.
With the 9-7 loss in Game 2, the Goldeyes fell to 17-24 on the season and dropped the three-game series to Ottawa, 2-1.
Reliever Tyler Wilson (1-0, 0.00 ERA) earned the victory, while Lafferty (2-2, 4.07) took the loss. Ottawa closer Alan DeRatt (2.25 ERA) picked up his second save.
The Goldeyes will open a four-game series in Fargo on Monday night. Lefty Kyle Anderson will get the start for Winnipeg. Monday night's game can be heard live on The Jewel 100.5 with Steve Schuster at the microphone.
The Goldeyes will return home on Friday night to open a four-game series with the first-place St. Paul Saints. 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.
American Association Stories from July 5, 2015
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