Ramon returns to Fish lineup

Winnipeg Goldeyes third baseman Amos Ramon will return to the baseball team's lineup tonight at 7 when the Goldeyes (54-41) host the Sioux City Explorers (42-53).

Ace Walker (9-4, 3.56) will be the Goldeyes' starting pitcher while Sioux City will counter with lefty Richard Salazar (7-7, 4.29).

The Goldeyes, who lost 10-9 on Wednesday night, still reduced their magic number to three to clinch the American Association's wild-card playoff spot since the St. Paul Saints lost.

With five games left to play in the regular season, the Goldeyes have a three-game lead on St. Paul for the wild card.

In Wednesday's loss, Ramon was rested while Goldeyes manager Rick Forney shuffled Yurendell de Caster to third base with Josh Mazzola at first base.

The team missed Ramon's quickness at the hot corner. Kyle Day, who played left-field on Wednesday, will not start while Mazzola will return to right field and de Caster to first base.

The Goldeyes host Sioux City on Friday in the final game of the four-game series and then welcome North division pennant-winner Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for three games to end the regular season on Saturday (6 p.m.), Sunday (1:30 p.m.) and Monday (7 p.m.) at Shaw Park.

Forney said he would consider a spot-starter in the next series against Fargo should the Goldeyes be able to clinch their playoff berth. In the third game against Fargo on Monday, he said it could be Kamloops, B. C., native Denver Wynn, the 25-year-old right-handed pitcher who had played earlier this season for Regina Red Sox of the Western Major Baseball League.

In four regular-season starts, Wynn had a 2-1 record and a 2.96 ERA.

"If we've already clinched, the game wouldn't matter too much and it would be a good opportunity for him," Forney said.

That would leave the Goldeyes starting the playoffs at the top of their pitching rotation with Ace Walker and Chris Salamida ready to start in the first two AA semifinal games of the best-of-five series at Newman Outdoor Field on Sept. 5 and 6. The remaining three games, if necessary and if Winnipeg earns the wild card, would be on Sept. 7, 8, and 9 at Shaw Park.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPAshleyPrest