Fish field 20 players in pre-season tryout game

WINNIPEG Goldeyes rookie outfielder Ridge Carpenter hit the game-winning single on Tuesday night to lift the Winnipeg Goldeyes to their first exhibition victory of the season at Shaw Park.

A crowd of 2,569 was treated to a warmer night and a friendlier result as the Goldeyes edged the St. Paul Saints 2-1. The Goldeyes lost 8-7 to St. Paul on Monday.

The Goldeyes will host the University of Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday at 6 p.m. at Shaw Park in their final home exhibition game.

The Goldeyes used seven pitchers and 13 position players in the game as manager Rick Forney, hitting coach Tom Vaeth and pitching coach Bill Pulsipher continued to evaluate players.

"We just want to see where they're at. The hitters are geared up to hit fastballs (in pre-season) so we want to see our pitchers mix their pitches and not just throw fastballs in these games," said Pulsipher, who saw returning pitchers Ace Walker and Chris Salamida take the mound early for their first action of 2012.

"It's the first time out so it's kind of a crash course for young guys. For Ace and Chris, we don't have to worry about them. They come in shape and they're ready to play."

In the bottom of the fifth, the Goldeyes got their first run when David Narodowski, pinch running for third baseman Amos Ramon, scored on a wild pitch.

St. Paul tied the score in the seventh on a line-drive RBI single by Jose Hernandez.

In the bottom of the eighth, Carpenter, who came into the game in the seventh inning, cracked a single to right field that scored centre-fielder Chris Roberson for the win.

Walker and Salamida each pitched two innings with Walker allowing two hits and Salamida one and no runs scored.

Rookie Chris Kaminski took the mound in the fifth inning followed by lefty Fabian Williamson, Brian Leach, Dexter Carter, who got the win, and Nick Carr, who had the save. The Goldeyes turned four double-plays on the night.

-- Ashley Prest

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 9, 2012 C4