Fish flounder again in loss to Capitales

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Winnipeg Goldeyes' Price Kendall is tagged out at second base by Quebec's Josh Colafemina in the sixth inning Thursday. (COLE BREILAND / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

It was another bad day at Shaw Park for the Winnipeg Goldeyes Thursday.

In a rare noon game — against an even rarer interleague visit from the Québec Capitales — the Goldeyes fell 5-0 in front of 5,456 Fish faithful, capping a three-game series sweep by the visiting team.

Capitales pitcher Jeff Duda was the biggest obstacle for the Goldeyes in the final game Thursday, as the righty threw seven shutout innings, allowing only six hits and striking out nine.

"Their pitching was fantastic for three straight games," Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said in an interview after the game. "To say they ever matched us would be an understatement. They had great command, a lot of poise, had a clue what they wanted to do with the baseball and executed well."

The Capitales pitching staff limited the Goldeyes’ bats to a mere 22 hits and five runs in 27 innings of play during the series. It was only the second time the Goldeyes have been swept this season. The other was during a four-game stretch at Shaw Park against division rivals Fargo-Moorhead earlier this month.

"They got us at the right time," commented veteran outfielder Jon Weber after the game. "We weren’t hitting good, we weren’t playing good defence. We did nothing positive this series, and as you can tell, we lost three games, so tomorrow’s a new day (and) I’m glad they’re leaving."

The Capitales took the lead early in the first inning when third baseman Jonathan Malo cashed in on a double from designated hitter Rene Leveret. Leveret finished the game 4-4, with two RBI and one run. That run would come in the fourth inning off an RBI double to left field from first baseman Josue Peley.

The Goldeyes added salt to their own wounds, giving up three runs in the seventh inning. With batters on first and second, Capitales centre-fielder Sebastien Boucher took a Dexter Carter pitch to deep right field, scoring teammate Josh Colafemina from second. A wild throw to third from Goldeyes right-fielder Josh Mazzola on the hit led to another run. The inning was capped off with Boucher scoring on an RBI single from Leveret.

"It was painful," said Goldeyes’ Chris Roberson, who finished the game with a team-best 2-for-4 at the plate. "They took advantage of every opportunity they could as far as us making mistakes. When you get in tough situations, you got to step up and figure out a way to get stuff done, and unfortunately we didn’t and we got swept."

The loss drops the Goldeyes to a 37-27 record, four games back of Fargo-Moorhead for top spot in the American Association’s North Division. The Goldeyes currently cling to the sole wild-card spot.

Goldeyes starter Chris Salamida was given the loss, dropping his personal record to 2-5 with a 4.63 ERA. In 6.1 innings, the lefty allowed six hits for four runs and struck out six.

The Goldeyes will hit the field again today when they take on the Sioux Falls Pheasants in the first of a three-game series at Shaw Park. Game time is 7 p.m.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton