Fish slugger Abercrombie swings into record book

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This article was published 30/07/2018 (2863 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Goldeyes outfielder Reggie Abercrombie made history Sunday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to lift his team to victory.

 

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks finished off a three-game series sweep with a 4-2 win over the Fish at Shaw Park. It’s the second time Fargo-Moorhead has brought out the brooms on the Goldeyes this season and they now own a 9-1 record against the Fish on the year.

There weren’t many positives for the Goldeyes, now 29-39, in the three-games with their North Division rivals, but there was one bright spot on Sunday. Veteran outfielder Abercrombie added to his long list of accomplishments by becoming the American Association’s all-time hits leader with a three-hit performance in the final game of the series. The 38-year-old Columbus, Ga., native tied the record of 801 with a two-run home run in the first inning. He didn’t share the record with the former hits leader, David Espinosa — who played for five teams in eight seasons between 2008-15 — for long, as Abercrombie hit a single in the third inning to claim the record as his own. Abercrombie finished the game three-for-five with two RBI.

The nine-year league veteran, who played for the Sioux Falls Canaries before joining the Goldeyes, also owns the American Association record for home runs and RBI. Abercrombie said if someone told him back in 2010 when he signed with Sioux Falls he’d one day own three American Association records, he wouldn’t have believed them.

“I would’ve been like, ‘Nah, you’re crazy,’ because I didn’t think I’d be playing this long,” said Abercrombie, who’s in his 19th season of professional baseball. “But I’ve been playing this long and my son has allowed me to play and I just continue to play and try to win.”

Abercrombie, in his fifth season with the Goldeyes, said it felt good to get the record at home, but it’s bittersweet as it came in a loss. Despite now having a selection of records to choose from, Abercrombie said he doesn’t have a favourite — they’re all special.

“They all rank the same,” Abercrombie said of his three records. “I’m blessed to be playing this game as long as I have. I’m glad to be playing this game and I’m glad to be playing with my teammates. They’ve been a big part of my success and I’m just happy to be here.”

The Fish played two three-game series at home this week, starting off with a sweep of the Texas AirHogs before dropping three to Fargo-Moorhead. A near-perfect week was needed for the Fish to stay afloat in the playoff race, as they need to finish in the top two of the North Division to reach the playoffs. Fargo-Moorhead managed to further distance themselves from the Fish, as they now sit in second place in the division at 37-28. After Sunday afternoon’s game between the Goldeyes and RedHawks, the Gary SouthShore RailCats sat alone atop the division at 37-27 before their evening game with the Cleburne Railroaders.

Things look bleak for the Goldeyes, to say the very least. Despite the low odds of climbing into a playoff spot, Abercrombie, who hinted at coming back for another season in an interview with the Free Press earlier this week, said he and his teammates haven’t given up hope.

“We’re just trying to win, man,” Abercrombie said. “You still got to go out here and try and win and make playoffs. You never know in baseball.”

Starting pitcher Tyler Herron took the loss Sunday, as he gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings on the mound to drop his record to 5-8.

The Fish have a day off today before they travel to Lincoln for a three-game series with the Saltdogs.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31