Everything but a win

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This article was published 18/08/2024 (412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A fun weekend at Blue Cross Park saw the ballpark filled with dogs, actor appearances and large crowds — the only thing missing was a Winnipeg Goldeyes win.

Baseball-wise, Goldeyes fans did not have much to cheer about, as the Fish fell 5-4 to the Sioux City Explorers who completed the series-sweep Sunday afternoon in front of 5,746 fans in attendance. Over the entire weekend, 16,840 fans made it out to Blue Cross Park.

“We could have capitalized a lot more,” said Rob Emery, who had two RBI in the loss. “So just didn’t make the most of our opportunities offensively. Just got to be better as a group collectively with the bat. We’re just looking forward.”

The Explorers were first to get across the plate with a run-by second-baseman Nick Shumpert, giving his squad an early 1-0 lead at the top of the second.

After mustering only two hits in a nailbiting 1-0 extra-inning loss to the Explorers Saturday at the annual “Bark in the Park” event, where actor Bob Odenkirk, who plays Saul Goodman on the U.S. TV series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, threw the first pitch — the Goldeyes needed a little redemption offensively after finding themselves down a run early.

Thanks to Edwin Arroyo getting hit by a pitch, Roby Enríquez got a free run to tie the game in the second — but even with loaded bases, it was the only run they pushed across.

Justin Connell responded with a solo home run over left field to give the Explorers their lead back at the top of the third.

At the bottom of the third, another hit by pitch and two stolen bases gave the Goldeyes their second bases-loaded opportunity of the game. This time, Emery was able to capitalize, with a single out to right field bringing in Max Murphy and Ramón Bramasco to give the Fish a 3-2 lead — their first of the game, and the series.

Nick Anderson tacked on another for the Fish with a home run of his own over left field at the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to 4-2.

However, with a three-run seventh inning, including a two-run home run over the left wall, the Explorers re-took a 5-4 lead.

“It’s good that we had such a good week leading up to this series,” said manager Logan Watkins. “Because then you bought yourself some room to kind of have an off series. I mean, all three good games, all three could have gone the other way.”

The Explorers improved to 40-45 on the season, while the Goldeyes fell to 48-39.

“Whether we get first place or fourth place, I don’t really care,” said Watkins. “I just really want to feel like we’re playing good baseball going into the playoffs.”

Starting for the hosts was veteran Mitchell Lambson, who is a familiar face for Goldeyes fans. Lambson won an AA championship with the Fish in 2017 and was named the league’s Pitcher of the Year in 2019.

Lambson — who was recently acquired by the squad on Aug. 11 — made his first appearance at Blue Cross Park since 2019. In six innings pitched, Lambson allowed four hits and two runs.

Ryder Yakel, Ven Onyshko and Tasker Strobel served as the relievers for the Fish.

J.D. Scholten, who is also an Iowa State Representative, got the start for the Explorers, allowing five hits and four runs in six innings pitched.

The Goldeyes start a six-game road trip Tuesday against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Game time is 7:02 p.m.

“There’s nothing but confidence in the room that our pitching staff is going to pick us up,” said Emery. “Our defence is going to be strong like it’s been the whole year, and the bats are going to wake up and we’re going to roll again.”

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca