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Goldeyes pick up Butler, Privett ahead of game against Sioux City

The Winnipeg Goldeyes (23-15) will look to sweep the Sioux City Explorers (18-22) in their final game of a 3-game series at 7 p.m. tonight at Shaw Park.

But for Manager Rick Forney the action began early, signing two new pitchers to the club.

With starting pitcher Brian Beuning returning to his day job as a state trooper in Minnesota and Chris Zbin on the disabled list, Forney acquired left-handed pitcher Tony Butler (free agent) and lefty Todd Privett from the Laredo Lemurs for future considerations.

"He’s a good starter, we need a starter," Forney said about Privett. "We lost one (Fabian Williamson) to Atlanta and we don’t have anyone else in-house to do that job."

In eight starts with Laredo this season, Privett has gone 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA. Drafted 14th round in 2006 by the New York Mets, the 26-year-old split time last season with Windy City of the Frontier League and Fort Wayne, a Single-A team affiliated with the San Diego Padres.

But it will be Butler that gets the first look tonight, as he’s expected to be on the mound come game time.

"We need a starter," repeated Forney about signing Butler. "We threw two rookies out there last week and they didn’t so well so we’re looking for him to come in and see what he can do."

The 24-year-old Butler has seen action this year with league rivals Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks and Lincoln Saltdogs. In nine games with the two clubs, Butler has a record of 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA. Before this season he spent the past six years in the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers organizations.

After tonight’s game the Goldeyes will get a well-deserved day off before heading to Wichita to play the Wingnuts in a three-game weekend series.

 

Jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

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