AA Winnipeg Goldeyes

Hawkins and Mazzola Lead Goldeyes to Split with Saltdogs

Published on June 7, 2012 under American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release


Rookie Rich Hawkins was signed earlier in the day, got his first professional start tonight and it came right when the Goldeyes needed it most.

Coming off a tough 3-1 loss to the Lincoln Saltdogs on Wednesday night, the Goldeyes bats boomed while Hawkins pitched 5.1 solid innings as Winnipeg whipped Lincoln 12-5.

Hawkins, 22, just completed his senior season with Oklahoma City University Stars, a small NAIA school. He kept the Goldeyes in the game long enough for the team's bats to explode. Winnipeg recorded a season-high 17 hits as Josh Mazzola hit a pair of two-run home runs and drove in five.

With the win, Winnipeg took a three-game lead on Sioux Falls in the race for first in the American Association's North Division.

"I thought he (Hawkins) threw the ball very well," said Goldeyes pitching coach Bill Pulsipher on the TSN 1290 post-game show. "He showed great composure and carried himself with a lot of confidence. I told him to go out there and do his thing. I said the game of baseball is the same no matter where you go. Go out there, get command of your pitches and you'll be alright and he was alright."

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Jon Weber walked and then scored ahead of Josh Mazzola who hit his first two-run homer. Then in the sixth, Luis Alen singled and scored when Mazzola hit his second two-run bomb of the game.

Later in the sixth, Amos Ramon singled, Kyle Day singled, David Narodowski grounded out and Ramon and Day each moved up 90 feet. Chris Roberson singled to drive in Ramon and Day and the Goldeyes led 6-1.

After Lincoln scored three times in the bottom of the sixth, the Goldeyes struck again in the seventh. Ridge Carpenter led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a single by Yurendell de Caster. Alen then singled to send de Caster to third and de Caster scored on a double by Mazzola - his fifth RBI of the night. Alen then scored on a double by Ramon that sent Mazzola to third. Price Kendall then singled home Mazzola and Ramon and the Goldeyes had an 11-4 lead.

"Josh Mazzola was awesome," said Pulsipher. "Tommy's (batting coach Vaeth) been working with him and Rick's been really patient with him. We've been waiting for him and he was very good tonight."

In the ninth, the Goldeyes made it 12-4 when Kendall drove home David Narodowski with a base hit. While Mazzola had four hits and five RBI, Kendall had three hits and three RBI.

Lincoln's Alan Rick homered off Nick Carr in the ninth but it didn't matter. The Goldeyes won 12-5, split the four-game series with Lincoln and improved to 13-6 on the season.

Hawkins (1-0) gave up four runs on five hits over five and a third innings and finished his first pro game with an ERA of 6.75, but the Goldeyes will take it. They got more than five innings from a rookie starter, gave him some run support and, as a result, improved to 8-5 on the road this season.

The Goldeyes got on the bus right after the game and headed off to Fargo, N.D. where they'll face the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in a three-game weekend series. Game 1 goes Friday night at 7 at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo. Paul Edmonds will have the call on TSN 1290. Ace Walker (2-0, 3.32 ERA) will get the start for Winnipeg.

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American Association Stories from June 7, 2012


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