Fish mount comeback

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Amarillo's Van Pope (25) turns a double play to first while Winnipeg's Yurendell de Caster (3) slides into him trying to break up the play during the Winnipeg Goldeyes and the Amarillo Sox game Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium. (MICHAEL NORRIS / AMARILLO GLOBE-)

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Photos by Michael Norris / Amarillo Globe-News Winnipeg shortstop Price Kendall tags out Amarillo base runner Adam Buschini during Saturday�s game. Kendall went 1-for-5 Saturday night, but drove in the winning run. (MICHAEL NORRIS / AMARILLO GLOBE-)

AMARILLO, Tex. -- Winnipeg left-fielder Kyle Day hobbled to second base to get the winning run aboard in the 11th inning as the Goldeyes posted a second straight come-from-behind win here on Saturday.

Ridge Carpenter came in to pinch run for the limping Day and scored as the Goldeyes defeated the Amarillo Sox 4-3 at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium in the second game of a nine-game road swing to open the 2012 American Association season. A crowd of 2,115 took in the game.

Winnipeg and Amarillo will meet tonight for the third of this three-game set.

After coming back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game 3-3, the Goldeyes loaded the bases in the 10th but couldn't score. Day hit a lead-off double in the 11th and "tweaked his hamstring" rounding first base.

"Just going around the bag I felt it kind of tighten up, like a dog bit me or something. I knew I wouldn't be able to run so I just did whatever I could to get to second," said Day who also notched the game-tying RBI in the ninth inning. "It gave us the opportunity to win and I wish I could have scored it."

Leading the Goldeyes was first baseman Yurendell de Caster with three hits and a run scored. Catcher Luis Alen had two hits and an RBI while Day had two doubles and shortstop Price Kendall had the game-winning RBI.

The Goldeyes had battled back in Friday's season opener from a seven-run deficit to win 14-9.

"We've got a good group of guys. We believe in each other and we're just going to keep grinding to the last out," Day said. "It's still early so we're still trying to fine-tune some things."

Amarillo took a 2-0 lead on runs in the first and second innings. In the second, Sox centre fielder Harrison Kain tripled -- the first of two Sox triples in the game -- and scored the second run.

An RBI double by Kain in the fourth gave the Sox a 3-0 lead.

The Goldeyes finally got on the board in the fifth inning on Amos Ramon's RBI single. In the sixth after de Caster got aboard on a double, Alen hit an RBI double to make it 3-2.

The Goldeyes tied the game in the ninth on a double by Day that scored right-fielder Josh Mazzola.

Sox pitcher Justin Garcia worked 5 2/3 innings and struck out six, allowing the first two Fish runs.

Defensively, the Goldeyes recorded four double plays in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings while Amarillo turned one.

Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said getting back to the team's routine made a big difference in their day.

There was no batting practice before Friday's game due a 20-year-old Amarillo tradition -- no batting practice on opening day.

"I don't think anybody is really good at this level if you don't go through a pre-game routine. That's the nature of the business and it seems to work if you go through the regular baseball routine," Forney said. "This is a good park to start the season offensively. If you're a hitter you can build a lot of confidence early and get some positive results."

Chris Salamida started for the Goldeyes, giving up three runs in four innings. Craig James came in and picked up the win, and Nick Carr picked up the save.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 20, 2012 B5