14°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Goldeyes beat heat, T-Bones
By Randy Turner
KANSAS CITY — It's the dog days of summer, in the land of T-Bones, and Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney is desperate for a more forgiving hind leg to a tumultuous 2012 American Association season.
He’d even settle for a truce with the baseball gods.
Entering a critical six-game road trip Tuesday night — three games against Kansas City and three at Sioux City — the Goldeyes are chasing the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for a division title while clinging to a slim lead for the wild-card berth ahead of both the T-Bones and Explorers, their immediate concerns.
After a series of key injuries that have seen the Goldeyes level off to a 13-13 record in July, however, Forney has come to accept more modest expectations.
"Just pray every day someone doesn’t go down," Forney said. "That’s why we didn’t have batting practice (Tuesday night). We don’t want someone to drop of heat exhaustion."
Indeed, it was 39 C when the Goldeyes sauntered onto Community America field Tuesday night. And they stayed hot, as veteran right-hander Ace Walker pitched a gem, and the visiting Goldeyes, now 40-28, opened the three-game series with a 4-1 victory.
With the win, the Goldeyes pulled to within 3.5 games of the division-leading RedHawks (44-25), who lost 4-0 to St. Paul on Tuesday night. St. Paul (38-30) remains two back of the Goldeyes in the wild card-race, while Kansas City (38-32) is now three back of Winnipeg.
Walker spread five hits over 8 1/3 innings to improve to 6-3 on the season.
Walker gave credit to three things after the win; hard work, the defence, and his home town.
"I’ve been working really hard, running and lifting weights, to make sure my body was ready for something like this," he said, after a sterling 124-pitch performance. "For me to be successful, I need the guys playing well behind me and that’s what they did tonight."
As for the heat, the righty shrugged, noting that his hometown of Prague, Okla., recorded a temperature of 40 C on Tuesday. "That’s just straight heat," he said.
Ironically, when it came to pitching, Walker spared his heat for accuracy, with 81 strikes on the night.
"I was struggling early," Walker noted. "But (Goldeyes pitching coach) Bill (Pulsipher) told me to settle down, just be myself."
After three scoreless innings, the Goldeyes struck first on a solo home run launched by third baseman Amos Ramon in the top of the fourth. Winnipeg struck for a pair in the sixth when veteran Yurendell de Caster doubled and later scored on a fielder’s choice by teammate Kyle Day. Ramon singled to score Day, giving the Goldeyes a 3-0 advantage.
The T-Bones' only run on Walker came in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI double off the bat of Kansas City’s Trevor Coleman.
The Goldeyes’ fourth and final run came in the top of eight, when catcher Luis Alen scored on an RBI single from Josh Mazzola.
Winnipeg reliever Craig James earned the save, with the final two outs.
"It’s huge," Walker concluded. "We were talking about it even before we left (Winnipeg). These games are going to be big. If we can focus on each one as it comes on this road trip, I think we’ll do really well."
The Goldeyes will continue their three-game series with Kansas City on Wednesday and Thursday night, before heading to Sioux City for three.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 41 articles for today)
Tornadoes from huge Midwest storm system level homes in Oklahoma, cut power in other states
9:09 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Head-on collision kills pickup driver
- The end of the credit card?
- Country music goes to pot
- Police make grow-op bust
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Fire damages St. Vital home
- Accused in alleged smartphone scam charged
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Police identify slaying victims
- Traditional TV season becoming outdated before your eyes
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- The end of the credit card?
- Katz bogeys again
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Guitar-playing astronaut bows out of space station with music video of Bowie's 'Space Oddity'
- Microsoft update to address Windows 8 complaints, confusion will be free; to be called 8.1
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- New website profiles neighbourhoods of Winnipeg
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- RCMP charge man with double-homicide in Ethelbert
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.