WINNIPEG – The Goldeyes celebrate Canada Day with a 4-2 win over the Saint Paul Saints at Shaw Park on Sunday afternoon.
With the Saints leading 1-0 into the bottom of the fifth, Matt McCann hit a leadoff single to left field. Josh Romanski followed up with a single down right. Romanski capitalized on a throwing error by Saints right-fielder Max Murphy and picked up an extra base. With both runners in scoring distance, a wild pitch at the hand of Saints catcher Aaron Gretz scored McCann and tied the game. The Saints had initially scored in the third, from a throwing error by Jamey Smart, that brought Richard Prigatano to home plate.
Reggie Abercrombie followed up Romanski with an RBI single through centre, bringing Romanski home and giving the Fish the go-ahead run. Next, Grant Heyman and Andrew Sohn drew back-to-back walks from Saints starting pitcher Dan Johnson, loading the bases. During Heyman’s at-bat, Abercrombie stole second base – making it the 499th steal of his career. Rookie first-baseman Smart came through with a two-run single to centrefield to score Abercrombie and Heyman, giving the Fish a 4-1 lead. Saints right-hander Ryan Schlosser took over for Johnson and threw a double-play to end the inning.
Schlosser proceeded to throw four more scoreless innings, holding the Fish at four runs for the rest of the game. Johnson took the loss, allowing four runs (four earned) on eight hits, with three strikeouts over five-and-a-third innings. Goldeyes starting pitcher Mitchell Lambson picked up the win, throwing four strikeouts and allowing one run (one unearned) on nine hits over six innings.
In the seventh, relief pitcher Jack Charleston stepped in for Lambson. Charleston allowed one run (one unearned), giving the Saints their final run of the game. Noah Perio Jr. brought Burt Reynolds home on a single just out of reach from Goldeyes shortstop Sohn. Cameron McVey and Victor Capellan followed up with scoreless innings. Capellan earned the save.