Outfield newbie lifts Fish

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This article was published 16/06/2011 (5585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

All hail the new guy.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes (18-15) shot down the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants 8-2 Wednesday afternoon in front of a near-sellout crowd (7,386) at Shaw Park — and much of the credit can be given to the new fish in the pond, outfielder Jon Weber.

The Goldeyes placed centre-fielder Jonathan Wyatt on the inactive list Tuesday, much to the chagrin of fans, however, in the final game of a three-game homestand against Sioux Falls (12-20), Weber, his replacement, proved more than adequate.

Weber, whom the Fish also signed Tuesday, had an efficient day at the plate, recording two RBI in four trips. Although the left-handed slugger hasn’t played baseball since January, Weber has high expectations for his game, no matter the amount of time off.

“It’s not a surprise to me, playing well,” said the 33-year-old Weber, who played the last four seasons at the triple-A level. “I expect to drive runs in and do things for my team.”

And that’s exactly what he did in the first inning, belting a two-run double to left field to bring in second basemen Price Kendall and shortstop Wes Long.

The performance was impressive, but Weber doesn’t want fans getting ahead of themselves, reminding them while he expects to play well, he possesses no super-powers.

“I’m not Superman or anything,” he said. “I’m still just trying to get my feet wet and get comfortable.”

The whole team looked comfortable Wednesday afternoon, in fact. Manager Rick Forney decided to start 27-year-old lefty Chris Salamida at the mound, and Salamida did not disappoint, as he put up a 3.65 ERA and allowed only one run, recording a strikeout in the process.

Reliever Chad Benefield picked up his first decision of the season, as he was inserted in the fifth inning and finished with an ERA of 1.15 and did not give up a run. Although the pitching was virtually sturdy as can be, it was the bats that really impressed.

Along with Weber’s successful day, Brian Myrow batted his fourth homer of the season in the second inning, a two-run blast over right field that put the Fish up 5-1. They continued to pad the stats with the bats in the eighth inning as Price Kendall scored on a Wes Long sacrifice fly and Myrow brought in Kody Kaiser with a one-run double, his third RBI of the game.

The big slugger on Sioux Falls, Brandon Sing, who came into the game batting .353 with a whopping 12 home runs, was held beautifully in check, recording only one RBI that came in the eighth inning to pull the Pheasants within four. That was the closest Sioux Falls ever came.

The rain caused about a 90-minute delay in the bottom of the fourth inning, as the game was paused from about 1:10 p.m. to 2:40 p.m., however it clearly did not dampen the Fish’s game plan.

The Goldeyes head out to Kansas City for a three-game tango with the T-Bones starting Friday at 7 p.m. and then head to Sioux City to battle the Explorers. The Fish are back home again at Shaw Park against the Lincoln Saltdogs on June 24 at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Earlier Wednesday, the Goldeyes released rookie right-handed pitcher Barry Fowler. Winnipeg now has 10 pitchers and 10 position players on its roster.

robby.frankel@freepress.mb.ca