Rusch Completely Dominates against Pheasants
Published on August 7, 2012 under American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
Another great start by Matt Rusch and a 14-hit attack gave the Winnipeg Goldeyes a series win over the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants.
Wednesday night at Shaw Park, Rusch became the first Goldeyes starter to pitch a complete game this season, allowing only two runs on five scattered hits as the Fish beat Sioux Falls 8-2.
With the win, the Goldeyes won their second straight game, improved to 44-31 on the season and pulled four games ahead of Kansas City in the American Association wild card race.
"Isn't it amazing how great your results can be if you just throw strikes," said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney when asked about Rusch's performance. "The remarkable thing about what Matt did is that he did it against a Sioux Falls team that can swing the bat.
"He executed his pitches and he got guys out. He was really efficient with everything that came out of his hand tonight. He was just what we needed."
While Rusch was getting the Pheasants out, the Goldeyes broke the game open in the second inning. With one out, Luis Alen walked, red-hot Josh Mazzola singled, Kyle Day beat out an infield single and then Amos Ramon singled to drive home Alen and Mazzola. Jose Duran then doubled home Day and Mike Coles beat out an infield hit. Roberson drove home Duran and Coles with a single and suddenly it was 5-0.
Sioux Falls scored a pair of runs in the third, but Winnipeg added single runs in the third, fourth and sixth and then watched their starter cruise to his eighth win of the season.
Mazzola continued to rip the baseball, going two-for-four with a run scored and an RBI while Roberson extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a single in four trips plus a walk, a runs cored and two driven in. The Goldeyes also played flawlessly in the field and that made Forney happy.
"We made the routine play tonight and we were fundamentally clean tonight," said Forney. "We got offence, defence and great pitching. It was just a great night for the ball club."
Rusch (8-2, 2.37 ERA) got the win for Winnipeg, while former Goldeyes righthander Barry Fowler (1-1, 4.74 ERA) suffered the loss for Sioux Falls.
The Goldeyes and Fighting Pheasants will meet again on Wednesday in the final game of this three game series. Todd Privett (5-4, 3.47 ERA) will get the start for Winnipeg, while Mitchell Clegg (6-5, 5.61 ERA) will take the ball for Sioux Falls.
Wednesday night's game will start at 7 p.m. at Shaw Park and it can be heard live on TSN 1290 with Paul Edmonds calling the play-by-play.
American Association Stories from August 7, 2012
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- It's Cool Hand Luke as Saints Snap RedHawks' 14 Game Home Win Streak with 8-2 Win - St. Paul Saints
- Rusch Completely Dominates against Pheasants - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Rusch's Gem Beats Pheasants - Sioux Falls Canaries
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