Veteran pitcher Lambson finds form as Goldeyes edge Explorers

Mitch Lambson reached deep into his bag of tricks and came up with the type of clutch performance his Winnipeg Goldeyes desperately needed.

The crafty veteran shook off a poor start to his season on Sunday at Blue Cross Park, pitching into the seventh inning and reminding everyone why he’s been one of the American Association’s best starters over the course of his career.

The result was a 4-3 victory for the Goldeyes over the Sioux City Explorers in front of 4,040 fans on a hot, sunny and windy afternoon.

“I felt like I needed to go out there and give everything I had today for my team,” Lambson told the Free Press.

Winnipeg improved to 10-12 on the year while Sioux City fell to 10-13.

Lambson, now in his seventh season with the Fish, entered play with a bloated 10.31 earned-run average through his first four starts. That’s certainly not the expectation for a pitcher whose resumé includes an all-star appearance just one year ago and the league’s pitcher-of-the-year award in 2019.

The 36-year-old, originally from California but now living full time in Winnipeg with his wife and young child, looked much more like his old self. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out two on 90 pitches.

“You got to see the real Mitch Lambson today, I believe,” said closer Derrick Cherry, who picked up his fourth save of the season after recording the final six outs of the game.

“He struggled a little bit to start, but that’s how it goes.”

Winnipeg’s rotation has taken a major hit in recent weeks, with Lambson and Luke Boyd the only two projected starters — out of five — currently available. Noah Millikan and Landen Bourassa recently had their contracts purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers and a Mexican League club, respectively. James Bradwell, who threw a no-hitter last year, is injured.

“We have a great bullpen. Guys are stepping up and giving us a lot of innings so it’s working out.”

So Lambson’s gem was just what the doctor ordered for an ailing club that has been forced to lean heavily on its bullpen, with relievers Arij Fransen, Kevin Vaupel and Ryo Kohigashi all making starts during the past week.

“It’s great for the guys getting signed, but it’s tough for us. So it’s next man up,” said Lambson. “We have a great bullpen. Guys are stepping up and giving us a lot of innings so it’s working out.”

Lambson improved to 2-3 while lowering his ERA to 8.28.

“Just trusting that I can locate and get people out with good location, that was the key today,” said Lambson.

“And the defence was incredible. They were diving, making every play, throwing people out. They really gave me a lot of confidence to go out there and throw strikes.”

Indeed, this may have been Winnipeg’s best defensive game of the season.

Among the highlights:

• Lambson teamed up with second baseman Keshawn Lynch to prevent a run in the third inning, beating the runner to first base after Lynch made a terrific scoop and delivered a perfectly timed throw.

• Shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder showed excellent range in the fourth, snagging a hot shot before pivoting and firing a strike to first.

• Centre-fielder Noah Marcelo made a highlight-reel diving catch to open the fifth inning.

• Lambson ended a threat in the sixth by catching a Sioux City runner leaning too far off second base, eventually leading to a rundown.

• Right-fielder Max Murphy chased down a hard-hit ball in the corner before throwing out Zac Vooletich as he attempted to stretch a single into a double to lead off the eighth.

“Our defence has honestly played really well all season for us. I love having those guys behind me,” said Cherry. “It gives you more confidence, just knowing you can let guys hit the ball and my teammates behind me are going to make plays.”

“And the defence was incredible… They really gave me a lot of confidence to go out there and throw strikes.”

That was the case again in the ninth inning, when the Explorers threatened with runners on the corners and one out. Third baseman Ramon Bramasco made a diving stop on a ball that appeared destined for left field, then threw out the batter at first. Although the runner from third scored on the play, it prevented further damage.

Cherry then got Vooletich — Sioux City’s RBI leader with 22 — to fly out, leaving the tying run stranded at second base. The closer now sports a tidy 0.96 ERA through 9 1/3 innings this season.

“They’ve got a lot of pesky hitters who put the bat on the ball. They made me work hard today,” said Cherry, who threw a season-high 41 pitches.

Winnipeg opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Marcelo led off with a double, advanced to third on a bunt and scored when Murphy’s ground ball was bobbled by the shortstop.

The Goldeyes added two more runs in the fifth. First baseman Roby Enriquez drew a leadoff walk and scored on Didder’s RBI triple. Didder then came home on a sacrifice fly by catcher Kevin Garcia.

“It was a great team win.”

Winnipeg stretched the lead to 4-0 in the sixth when Murphy drove in Lynch, who had opened the inning with a double.

Lambson began to run out of gas in the seventh, surrendering a leadoff home run to Sioux City first baseman Alberto Osuna. He recorded two outs but also allowed a pair of singles and a walk before turning things over to Quinn Waterhouse. One inherited runner came around to score before Waterhouse escaped the jam with a strikeout.

“Our bullpen all around did great today,” said Lambson. “Quinn got me out of a jam there with a big strikeout, and then Derrick went out there and gave it everything he had. It was a great team win.”

Winnipeg is now 3-4 on its season-long 10-game homestand, which resumes Tuesday when the Cleburne Railroaders arrive for a three-game series.

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