Fish have wildcard hopes despite loss to Milkmen

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This article was published 26/08/2021 (1508 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes, now 47-40, remain in the hunt for the second wildcard spot in the American Association’s North Division following Wednesday night’s nail-biting loss to the Milwaukee Milkmen by a score of 9-8.

Dylan Burns got the starting job at the mound for the Fish as the Goldeyes looked to keep the momentum rolling, however Milwaukee’s bats came out swinging fast with runs scored by Brett Vertigan and Adam Brett Walker II.

The Goldeyes would recover in the third inning with five runs on a two-run base hit from Austin Rei, while Max Murphy and Kevin Lachance launched solo home runs. Raul Navarro would score on a hit from Logan Hill and the Fish would jump in front 5-4.

Milkmen starting pitcher Christian Young was chased from the game following the third inning, but the Milwaukee club would soon hold a 6-5 lead until the latter stages of the game.

Tyler Hill would smash a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to give the Fish a 7-6 lead. Goldeyes closer Donnie Hart would see his biggest test in the bottom half the final inning.

Adam Brett Walker — who has been challenging Goldeyes Kyle Martin for the league home-run lead — hammered a two-run round-tripper bringing home Logan Trowbridge for a 9-8 victory.

The Goldeyes series against Milwaukee follows a successful homestand at Shaw Park over the rain-delayed weekend and some excellent play in their doubleheader win the night before.

On Tuesday night, the Goldeyes trailed the Milkmen by five games in the American Association’s North Division and pulled within three thanks to the work of some excellent pitching and timely hits.

In the first game, the Goldeyes bullpen led by Greg Harris, threw five shutout innings on one hit and picked up the victory. Travis Seabrooke and Donnie Hart, two of manager Rick Forney’s key relief pitchers kept Milwaukee off the scoresheet and the Fish batters took care of business putting up three runs in the sixth inning to get the win.

In the second game, Deon Stafford who has played very well for the Fish as of late launched a three-run homer to give the Goldeyes an early lead. Milwaukee would try to chip away at a 5-0 lead but the Goldeyes held the margin at the mound and kept a one run victory beating the Milkmen 5-4.

The Fish had their four-game winning streak snapped, but remain 7-3 in their last 10 games. Over the month of August, with a significant boost to morale in the clubhouse upon their return to Shaw Park, the Goldeyes are 15-5 since Aug. 3, where they started off with a lopsided victory over the Sioux City Explorers 14-6.

The Goldeyes also have a potential victory waiting to add to the win column due to a suspended match between the Fish and the North Division first-place Chicago Dogs. On Aug. 12, the Goldeyes were holding on to a 8-5 lead going into the ninth inning until a fireworks show suspended play in the top half of the inning. With four outs needed to complete the game, the Fish will try to quickly notch one more victory on Aug. 31, when the game will be completed at Shaw Park.

The Goldeyes will close out the four game series against the Milkmen tonight in Milwaukee.

jbernacki@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @JosephBernacki