R&R just what doctor ordered

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This article was published 16/07/2019 (2307 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It would appear a rare day off was just what the Winnipeg Goldeyes needed.

The Fish came out firing on all cylinders Tuesday night — at the plate, on the mound and in the field — and the end result was a much-needed 11-2 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries in front of 4,241 at Shaw Park.

Winnipeg just wrapped up a season-long stretch of 20 straight days with a game on Sunday in St. Paul before returning home in the wee hours of Monday morning, where they enjoyed a respite from the diamond but not entirely escaping the grass as they participated in their annual golf tournament. The Goldeyes went 8-12 in that span, and just 1-5 in the past final six games as they appeared to be running on fumes thanks to a pair of lengthy road trips that included plenty of bus travel.

A good night’s sleep and some home cooking apparently did them well.

Starting pitcher Mitch Lambson was especially sharp Tuesday, keeping the American Association’s top-hitting team mostly at bay through seven strong innings in which he gave up just one run on eight hits. Lambson improves to 6-2 on the year and is among the league-leaders in earned-run average, now at a sparkling 2.93 through a dozen starts.

The veteran hurler from California received plenty of offensive support on the night, as the Goldeyes scored four times in the third inning, three in the fifth and three in the seventh to turn it into a rout.

First baseman Kyle Martin swatted a three-run home run and later added a run-scoring single, while Goldeyes all-star infielder Wes Darvill continued to swing a red-hot bat with a pair of RBI doubles. Designated hitter Willy Garcia and outfielder James Harris each had a pair of run-scoring hits, while third basemen Dominic Ficociello had the other RBIs.

Tyler Garkow served up an eighth inning solo home run pitching in relief of Lambson, but that was as close as the visitors would get as Christian Torres worked a scoreless ninth.

The Goldeyes improve to 30-25 on the season, which has them 7½ games back of first-place Fargo-Moorhead and 4½ back of second-place St. Paul in the North Division.

The top two teams in each division make the playoffs, so the Goldeyes certainly have their work cut out for them with 45 games remaining in the regular-season.

Sioux Falls is now 27-28 after dropping a fourth straight game. The Goldeyes and Canaries continue the three-game series tonight, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. Winnipeg righty Parker French (2-3, 5.63 ERA) will face Sioux Falls lefty Luis Pollorena (4-1, 3.02 ERA).

FISH HOOKS: Winnipeg-born pitcher Ryan Johnson has been released by the Goldeyes. The 26-year-old rookie lefty made a solid first impression but really struggled of late as the league seemingly started to figure him out. He made nine starts, going 1-4 with a 5.00 ERA. Walks were the biggest problem, with 31 free passes in 45 innings, along with 48 hits and just 19 strikeouts. Johnson’s signing in late May was noteworthy as he became the first local product to play for the Fish in more than a decade. The Goldeyes are now carrying 22 players on the active roster, which is one below the league maximum. Expect a new addition in the coming days.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg