Six-run sixth inning powers Goldeyes past Monarchs

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This article was published 09/07/2024 (766 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It looked like the Winnipeg Goldeyes weren’t going to muster a hit Tuesday night against the Kansas City Monarchs — until a six-run sixth inning suddenly propelled the Fish to a 7-3 victory.

Sometimes all it takes is facing a different pitcher for the bats to start swinging — and that was the case for the Goldeyes, who came back to beat the Monarchs on a cloudy evening at Blue Cross Park in front of 2,575 fans.

Monarch’s starter, southpaw Michael Watson, pitched five near-perfect innings, not allowing any hits and striking out two, although walking six players.

The reigning Miles Wolff Cup Champions got things going early off the bat of Monarch’s left-fielder Joe Suozzi, whose single brought in shortstop Josh Bissonette for a 1-0 lead at the top of the second inning.

When Watson was replaced by Zack Leban, all it took was one inning for the Goldeyes to run away with the game.

Centre-fielder Miles Simington registered the Goldeye’s first hit in the bottom of the sixth. Simington was brought in by a Jake McMurray single to tie the game, and there was no stopping the Fish after that.

Runs by Rob Emery, Jake McMurray, Andy Armstrong, Ryan Holgate and Roby Enriquez extended the Goldeyes lead to 6-1.

“It just goes to show you, us working together one guy at a time just trying to get on base, good things happen,” said Simington.

“We’re kind of a contagious hitting team,” said Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins. “If one guy gets going, the rest of them seem to follow.”

Leban allowed five hits in just two-thirds of an inning before being replaced by reliever Nate Tellier.

“I mean offensively, we’re just kind of hot and cold but when we get hot, we get hot,” said Watkins. “I prefer we spread out the runs a little bit, but at least we got going, it was more than enough in the end.”

To top things off, third-baseman Ramon Bramasco hit a single to bring in second-baseman Dayson Croes, extending the lead to 7-1 in the seventh. The Monarchs got two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough to match the Goldeyes’ breakout sixth inning.

“We’re getting guys in good scoring position and getting them in,” said Simington of the team offence. “I think that’s been the biggest difference lately.”

Right-hand pitcher Zac Reininger got the start for the Goldeyes, allowing 10 hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched with one strikeout. Michael Krauza and Ben Onyshko were the relief pitchers, neither allowed a run.

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The Goldeyes improved to 27-26 on the season while the Monarchs fell to 23-27.

The Fish, who are coming off a 2-1 series loss against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks, hope to take the momentum from Tuesday’s 10-hit performance into game two of the series against the Monarchs Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

“Pitching is always going to give us a chance,” said Watkins. “We just got to keep going offensively and keep the momentum going.”

The American Association also announced on Tuesday the lineup for the 2024 All-Star Game in Kansas City on July 23. The Goldeyes will have four players representing the squad. Dayson Croes and Rob Emery are the starting second baseman and catcher, while Joey Matulovich and Travis Seabrooke will serve as non-starters for the West Division.

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca