Pheasants drop Goldeyes

SIOUX FALLS — The Fighting Pheasants earned a 7-4 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes Thursday, and for Winnipeg it was a costly loss as they fell 1 1/2 games back of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for first place in the American Association's North Division.

The Goldeyes opened the scoring in the first inning but spent much of the game staring at a deficit.

Yurendell de Caster had driven in Price Kendall in the top of the first inning, but the Pheasants answered in the bottom half of the frame when Trevor Lawhorn belted out a two-run home to take a 2-1 lead.

Sioux Falls added another run in the second inning, but Winnipeg responded in the fourth inning to tie the game 3-3. Josh Mazzola doubled in Chris Roberson and then scored on a Kyle Day single.

That’s the closest Winnipeg would get.

Cory Morales hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to put the home side back up 6-4 and despite a run in the eighth, the Goldeyes couldn’t complete the comeback as Sioux Falls added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth.

De Caster had a strong night for the Fish at the plate as he went three-for-three for the second straight game and is a perfect six-for-six in the series.

Sioux Falls starter Pete Gehle tossed 7 1/3 innings to get the win, while Kyle Mertins earned the save. Goldeyes starter Chris Salamida was tapped for four runs over 5 1/3 innings and suffered his fourth loss of the season.