Win string runs out as Fish fall to 'Dogs

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WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Lincoln's Joe Spiers beats sliding Fish baserunner Price Kendall to second.

The table was set but there was no ninth-inning lightning on the menu for the Winnipeg Goldeyes Wednesday afternoon at Shaw Park.

The Goldeyes were facing a five-run deficit when they scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning, but they left bases loaded after shortstop David Narodowski struck out to end the game. The Lincoln Saltdogs (12-15) avoided the series sweep with a 5-2 win over the Goldeyes (18-7) before 7,015 fans, mostly local schoolchildren.

The Goldeyes departed right after the game for a seven-game road trip, including four in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday through Sunday and three in Sioux Falls, S.D., June 18-20.

Winnipeg, which saw its season-high winning streak come to an end at six games, was down 5-0 in the seventh inning.

"It wasn't a very fun day, but it was exciting. We got the winning run to the plate," said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. "You just never know what's going to happen. Sometimes bullpens can lose the strike zone and things can happen in a hurry."

The Goldeyes were out-hit 13-8 in the game, but got four of their hits in the eighth and ninth innings. They have won five games this season in their final at-bat.

The Goldeyes were led by catcher Kyle Day, who had three hits, including a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning to score infielder Yurendell de Caster. Luis Alen, usually the catcher but serving as the designated hitter, scored Winnipeg's second run on a Saltdogs error.

The Saltdogs got eight scoreless innings from starting pitcher Ryan Sheldon, who allowed no runs on six hits. Goldeyes starter Ace Walker (3-1) took the loss, allowing 12 hits and five runs while striking out one.

Lincoln took a 2-0 lead in the fourth frame, followed by one run in the sixth when an RBI single by Lincoln catcher A.J. Miller scored third-baseman Jared McDonald. McDonald, who hit a pair of doubles on the day, then hit a two-RBI single off Walker in the seventh for the 5-0 lead. With the 100-game season now one-quarter over, infielder Price Kendall, Alen and centre-fielder Chris Roberson have played all 25 games.

The Goldeyes, who have won seven of nine home games, have an 11-5 record on the road.

DIAMOND DUST: The Goldeyes placed closer Nick Carr on the inactive list retroactive to Monday, which carries a minimum of 30 days, due to a shoulder injury. Carr could be done for the season, as Forney said the injury is to the labrum (shoulder-joint cartilage) in his throwing arm... The Goldeyes are second in the American Association in team hitting, with a .292 average... Kendall, who left Wednesday's game after the eighth inning to rest a sore leg suffered in a collision at home plate Tuesday, has gotten on base in all 25 games.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPAshleyPrest

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 14, 2012 C8