Ramirez conquers Canaries

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This article was published 29/05/2023 (889 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Holding a one-run lead at the top of the ninth inning and with two men on and only one out, the unshakable Luis Ramirez did what he’d done all game and fanned the next two batters to preserve a Winnipeg Goldeyes victory Sunday afternoon.

Winnipeg wrapped up its first homestand of the season in style with a 3-2 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries on a warm and sunny afternoon in downtown Winnipeg.

The Goldeyes are now 8-7 early in the American Association pro ball season, while the Canaries dropped to 6-10. The local squad went 6-3 in its first prolonged stint at Shaw Park.

The Fish wore Reston Rockets jerseys in honour of the 2009-13 team that was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame Saturday night.

The pitching duo of Travis Seabrooke and Ramirez was vital for the Goldeyes, who were forced to get creative with their staff due to their reliance on the bullpen in their last few contests.

Seabrooke started the game and pitched two scoreless innings, but his pitch count was capped. He tossed four innings in a start only four days ago.

The baton was then handed to Ramirez who was splendid on the mound in his seven innings. The right-hander gave up only two earned runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out 10 — including a pair in a dramatic ninth to close it out.

First-year manager Greg Tagert said the unorthodox approach of opening with Seabrooke for a short stint before switching to Ramirez worked because of the buy-in from the pitching staff.

“We had to switch things up and it doesn’t work unless we can get our staff to be comfortable with an idea like that,” said Tagert. “We had our best guy on the mound at the most important part of the game and today, it worked out.”

Third baseman Dayson Croes was also a standout for Winnipeg.

He went 3-for-3 at the plate with two singles, a double and a walk. He also scored the first run of the game for his team on a Max Murphy groundout in the first. Croes’ hit streak has reached 12 games.

“(Croes)has been a catalyst for this ball club.” says Tagert.

Croes, inked to a deal with the Fish in February, said his focus is to simply put the ball in play.

“I’m a strong believer that if you put the ball in play good things will happen. Just keep putting the ball in play and eventually it will find a hole,” said Croes.

The Goldeyes now embark on a six-game road trip that begins Tuesday against the Chicago Dogs.

donald.stewart@freepress.mb.ca