Winnipeg Edges Kansas City
July 21, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
The league-leading Winnipeg Goldeyes won a thriller tonight, dumping the Kansas City T-Bones 10-8 with their final at-bat before a crowd of 6,521 at Canwest Park. It marked a fitting end to a night that began with the jersey retirement of long-time Goldeyes pitcher Donnie Smith, the Northern League's all-time leader with 206 appearances.
Winnipeg opened the scoring off Luis Villarreal in the first. With one out and Josh Asanovich on second courtesy of his team-leading 17th double, Juan Diaz took Villarreal's first pitch deep to left for his team-leading 11th home run. Two pitches later, it was 3-0 when Kevin West tied Diaz for the team lead in home runs.
The hosts added to their lead in the third. West drew a lead-off walk, went to third on a Brent Metheny single and scored when Dee Brown bounced into a fielder's choice that forced Metheny at second. West was back for more in the fifth when his one-out solo shot gave him the outright team lead with 12 home runs. With Justin James in for Villarreal, the Goldeyes made it 7-0 in the seventh. Diaz walked, West walked and Metheny singled to load the bases, ending the night for James. Chris Rhoads came in to face Brown, who bounced into a double play that forced Metheny at second, moved West to third and scored Diaz. Cody Ehlers followed with a single that scored West.
Blanked through seven by Bear Bay while held to just four hits, the T-Bones broke the shutout in the eighth. After giving up singles to Jacob Blackwood and Jeff Helps, Bay was lifted for Chris Homer, who was met by an Aharon Eggleston single that loaded the bases. Damian Rolls followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Blackwood and it was 7-1. Homer then struck Greg Jacobs out before making way for Jordan Stewart, who promptly walked Craig Hurba on four pitches. Jim Fasano singled to score Helps and Eggleston and Ryan Fox doubled to score Hurba and Fasano. And it wasn't over yet.
Like they did to start the eighth, Blackwood and Helps singled to start the ninth. After getting the first two strikes on Eggleston, Stewart was replaced by Zach Baldwin, whose first pitch was singled to centre to score Blackwood and it was 7-6. Matt Davis came in and got Rolls to bounce into a fielder's choice that erased Eggleston before Jacobs singled to score Helps and tie it. Hurba followed with a single to score Rolls and the T-Bones were up 8-7. But not for long.
With closer Nate Cotton in and one out, West hit his third home run of the night to tie it. Brown hit a two-out infield single before Ehlers ended it walk-off style with a home run to right.
Davis (4-5) blew the save but still got the win after allowing two hits with no walks or strikeouts. Cotton (0-2) took the loss after giving up three runs on as many hits with no walks or strikeouts.
This series continues Wednesday at 7 p.m. Mark Michael is up for the Goldeyes while the T-Bones have yet to name a starter. Great seats starting at just $5 are available at all Ticketmaster locations, including the ballpark box office, by calling 780-3333 or visiting ticketmaster.ca.
Northern League Stories from July 21, 2009
- RedHawks Edge JackHammers - Joliet JackHammers
- RailCats Hang on to Beat Schaumburg 5-4 Tuesday Night - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Fish, Ehlers Walkoff with 10-8 Victory - Kansas City Monarchs
- Flyers Drop See-Saw Battle - Schaumburg Flyers
- Winnipeg Edges Kansas City - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- RedHawks Edge JackHammers - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Tony Cogan Named Northern League Pitcher of the Week - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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