News

Photo: Dan LeMoal

WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyesa evened up their spring record with a 9-3 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Shaw Park on Wednesday night.

The Goldeyes (1-1) drew 10 walks on offence, scoring on four of them, and using two others to drive in runs.  Casio Grider and Wes Darvill drew consecutive one-out walks in the bottom of the second.  After Carlton Tanabe loaded the bases with an infield single, Ridge Hoopii-Haslam singled home Grider with the game’s first run on a line drive to right field.  Maikol Gonzalez made it 2-0 with an RBI fielder’s choice.

“It’s a whole different game plan (compared to last year with Grand Prairie),” said Hoopii-Haslam.  “I talked with Tom (Vaeth), and we just need to find a way–starting earlier as a rookie, understanding the process, and seeing the ball well.  I’m seeing the ball well, and I’m blessed to be here.”

Left-hander Kevin McGovern (1-0) took over for starting pitcher Kyle Anderson in the top of the second and would make the lead stand up.  McGovern struck out three over three shutout innings while picking up the win.

Two more walks helped set the table in the bottom of the third.  Following back-to-back free passes toJacob Rogers and David Rohm, Josh Romanski singled hard up the middle to make it 3-0.

The Goldeyes extended the lead to 5-0 with two more runs in the fourth.  Tanabe led off by legging out his second infield single of the game.  After Justin Marra pinch-ran for Tanabe, Hoopii-Haslam coaxed Winnipeg’s sixth walk of the night.  Two batters later, Adam Heisler lined a single to centre field that chased home Marra.  Hoopii-Haslam came home on Reggie Abercrombie’s sacrifice fly to left.

RBI singles from Ryan Pineda and Josh Mazzola in the top of the fifth helped the RedHawks (2-2) cut the lead to 5-2, but the Goldeyes answered back with three in the bottom of the inning to break the game open.  With first and third and one out, Darvill’s infield single plated Romanski.  Later in the inning, Hoopii-Haslam and Heisler each drew bases loaded walks to extend the lead to 8-2.

“It was great to get the win,” said Darvill.  “It felt nice to put the ball in play and spray some hits around, but it’s still early.  It feels great to get the ‘w’ for sure.”

Richard Lucas accounted for the RedHawks’ final run with a solo home run down the left field line in the top of the sixth.

Rogers cracked Winnipeg’s first home run of the spring with an opposite-field shot to left-centre in the bottom of the eighth.  Rogers also made a stellar defensive play in the top of the inning.  The first baseman ranged far into foul territory down the right field line before making a lunging grab on a pop fly to rob Lucas of any further swings.

“If felt good,” said Rogers.  “I was looking for a fastball in the middle of the plate or away, and I put a good swing on it.  It was nice to barrel one up finally.”

Anderson took a no-decision, pitching one inning and working out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first.  Mike Bradstreet (0-1) took the loss for Fargo-Moorhead, allowing three earned runs on three hits in two and one-third innings.  Bradstreet walked five and struck out none.

Dylan Rheault, Eric Sim, and Jailen Peguero each threw a scoreless inning during their exhibition debuts.  After striking out 10 batters on Tuesday night, Winnipeg’s pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts in Wednesday’s victory.