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Goldeyes Report

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Rough week for Fish gets better with win

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 06/22/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

RICK FORNEY has seen a lot in his 20-plus years in pro baseball. Not surprisingly, then, the Winnipeg Goldeyes manager has learned a thing or two about rolling with the punches.

But then comes a strange stretch like the last week or so when the Goldeyes lost closer Nick Carr for the season with a labrum tear in his shoulder, third baseman Amos Ramon for roughly six weeks with a separated shoulder and infielder Yurendell de Caster -- a player Forney called "the best player in the league" -- to the Tabasco Olmecas of the Mexican League.

Forney brought back outfielder Dan Barbero, a guy he cut two weeks ago, and signed pitcher Brian Beuning, currently on holidays as a Minnesota State Trooper.

Then came word that pitcher Fabian Williamson, who took to the mound Thursday night against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, had been picked up by the Atlanta Braves organization.

The 23-year-old lefty will report to the Single-A Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League.

Tough week, huh skipper?

"It happens, man," said Forney prior to the club's 3-2 win over the Redhawks, the first of seven straight at Shaw Park. "It's been a rough week losing your closer, we lost Amos right away and we knew we were going to lose de Caster. (Outfielder) Kyle Day is out again with a shoulder injury.

"We're trying to piece it together as best we can, but it's not easy. We'll do the best we can.

"I hope you say a prayer for us."

Now, the Goldeyes have their fingers crossed de Caster could return if Tabasco doesn't get red-hot and make a run to the Mexican League playoffs, but in the meantime filled his spot by adding 29-year-old veteran Gabriel Martinez.

Drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 27th round of the MLB Amateur Draft in 2001, Martinez played 11 games with Mexico City this season after hitting .323 with 20 home runs and 68 RBI with Saltillo and Laguna last year.

Martinez struck out three times in his Fish debut, but Winnipeg managed to scratch out a victory over the Redhawks in front of 5,235 faithful who will watch their squad at home in 18 of their next 21 games.

Five different Fish pitchers combined for the 'W' -- Fabian Williamson, Brian Beuning, Zach Baldwin, Kaohi Downing and Dexter Carter -- while catcher Luis Alen's two-run single in the third was the key hit for the Goldeyes.

Beuning, who last pitched here in 2008, earned the win (1-0) with five outs of middle relief while Carter picked up his second save.

The win pushes the Goldeyes' record to 21-12, first in the American Association's North Division. The two clubs meet again tonight at 7 p.m. at Shaw Park with Rich Hawkins (3-0, 4.70 ERA) starting for the Goldeyes.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 22, 2012 C5

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