Goldeyes beat Pheasants 4-1

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Winnipeg Goldeyes Luis Alen (RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store

Catcher Luis Alen and centre-fielder Chris Roberson hit home runs and pitcher Dexter Carter recorded his first professional save to lead the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team to a 4-1 win over the Pheasants on Wednesday afternoon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

It was just the second win on this seven-game road trip for the Goldeyes (20-12) who increased their lead to three games in the American Association’s North division.

The Goldeyes scored runs in the third, fourth, seventh and ninth innings. Sioux Falls (17-15) came within one scoring their only run in the bottom of the fourth. Alen scoring what stood as the game-winning run with his solo home run in the fourth inning. Roberson, whose homer came in the top of the ninth inning, scored three runs.

Goldeyes starting pitcher Matt Rusch tossed eight innings allowing just one run on eight hits and striking out seven.

"He (Rusch) was the stopper today," said Goldeyes’ pitching coach Bill Pulsipher told TSN 1290 radio. "The good way to stopping a losing streak or a bad run is to have a dominant outing and that’s exactly what we needed today."

Infielder Yurendell de Caster, who went 16-for-28 at the plate on the seven-game trip, played his final game for the Goldeyes as he has accepted a contract to play in the Mexican League at the AAA level.

The Goldeyes will play six in a row at home including three on Thursday-Sunday against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and June 25-27.

Fabian Williamson (2-4, 3.60 ERA) is expected to get the start for the Goldeyes on Thursday while Fargo is expected to start Tyler Herron (1-2, 3.86).

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca