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Winnipeg Free Press
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
RedHawks teach Goldeyes a lesson
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks showed the Winnipeg Goldeyes why they're in the final West Division playoff spot — and the Goldeyes are not — Wednesday evening, making it look easy with a lopsided 10-4 victory in front of 4,540 people at Blue Cross Park to complete the series sweep. The Goldeyes barely had time to find hope for a win before the RedHawks blew things wide open in what was a game-costing start for pitcher Mitchell Lambson. On just the second swing of the game, the RedHawks got on the board, with Lamar Sparks blasting a home run over the left field fence. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Winnipeg's Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble entertained fans throughout Wednesday's game. A couple of outs later, it was RedHawks designated hitter Brendon Dadson who sent a home run of his own out of Blue Cross Park, this time over the right field fence, to give his squad a 2-0 lead at the top of the first. It was the second inning when the Goldeyes' grave was dug, as the RedHawks pushed seven runs across to open up a 9-0 advantage. 'He's been doing this a very long time,' said Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins of Lambson. 'I promise that wasn't the first time he's had an outing like that, and he'll bounce back. It's pretty obvious, when we hit well, we win. We typically pitch well enough to be right there to keep every team we play — with the exception of tonight — to about three, four or five runs. But we're only scoring two, three, four runs right now, it feels like. So yeah, we gotta hit.' For a Goldeyes team that sat second-last in runs and hits in the American Association going into the game, the kind of explosive offence needed to put together a comeback just hasn't been around this season. The Goldeyes are now sitting 12 games back from the Western playoff line, and being swept by the team they are trying to chase in the standings, it goes without saying that it's not the outcome the Fish needed or wanted. 'We have a full month to do it,' said Watkins of climbing back up the standings. 'We probably need a couple of the teams ahead of us to go cold, which can happen. Sioux City snuck into the playoffs last year by getting really hot the last three weeks of the season, so it's not impossible.' Matthew Warkentin scored the first run for the Goldeyes in the bottom of the second, which was followed by another run by the RedHawks in the top of the third. Lambson lasted 4 2/3 innings before being relieved by Derrick Cherry, allowing 11 hits, 10 runs and walking two. 'We're pitching well enough to have a chance with the exception of tonight,' said Watkins. 'But we got to start hitting the ball, it's that simple.' The Goldeyes had a small comeback attempt towards the end of the game, starting in the sixth, with Roby Enríquez's double driving in Keshawn Lynch and Warkentin, before Jacob Robson sent his ninth home run of the season over left field in the seventh to cut the lead to 10-4. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Goldeyes southpaw starter Mitchell Lambson had a night to forget Wednesday against the RedHawks. It was not nearly enough, as the Goldeyes, who have dropped their last five, fell to 27-43 on the season. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Fans at Blue Cross Park were still energetic and cheering loudly, regardless, especially for the Goldeyes' ninth annual Ukrainian Night, which sprinkled celebrations of Ukrainian culture throughout the evening. The Hooslie Ukrainian Male Chorus started the night off, singing the Ukrainian, American and Canadian national anthems, and the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble performed traditional Ukrainian dances in the pregame show and between innings. 'That's one of the reasons that the best fans in this league are here in Winnipeg,' said Watkins. 'It's easy to show up and cheer on a team that's playing well, it's not when the team is struggling, but you still show up and are still into the game and being supportive. And I know the guys really appreciate that.' The Goldeyes hit the road today, where they will face the Milwaukee Milkmen. Game one starts at 6:35 p.m.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Goldeyes stage comeback to claim series
The Winnipeg Goldeyes experienced a bit of whiplash in this week's series against the Sioux Falls Canaries. After a solid 9-3 win in Game 1 of the series, followed by a lopsided 15-2 loss, it was hard to predict how the third game would go for the Goldeyes, who have had hot and cold bats all season. Luckily for the Fish, Thursday night's game would be categorized as hot, taking their third series win in a row with an entertaining 8-7 comeback victory at Blue Cross Park. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Winnipeg Goldeyes starting pitcher Mitchell Lambson, last week's American Association pitcher of the week, delivers the ball during top of the third inning. 'I mean that's baseball,' said Goldeyes centre-fielder Roby Enríquez. 'Sometimes you're gonna take L's, but what really matters is whatever happened yesterday, you don't live in the past, and you keep moving forward. We just flipped the page, and today we got a different result.' Ramón Bramasco, first up to bat, set the tone early for the Fish with a hit on his first swing, later being brought in by first baseman Matthew Warkentin to give the Goldeyes a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. However, a run by the Canaries' Hunter Clanin tied the game in the top of the third and got things going for the road team. Matt Ruiz, who can't seem to be stopped recently, then hit his third home run of the series, a three-run blast, giving Sioux Falls a 4-1 lead. Unlike the second game, where the Goldeyes completely fell apart after opening the scoring, allowing nine runs in the fourth, this time the Fish didn't let the game slip away so easily. 'It almost felt like yesterday all over again,' said Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins. '…Thankfully, it wasn't nine runs. It was enough where we had a chance to come back. That's what we need. We need to start winning games like that, the close ones.' In the bottom of the third, a blast to left field by Tanner O'Tremb for a three-run home run tied the game at four apiece. But Canaries' Josh Rehwaldt took back the lead at the top of the fifth, with his 11th home run of the season giving his squad a 5-4 lead. Starting for the Goldeyes was southpaw Mitchell Lambson, allowing eight hits, five runs, and striking out two in five innings pitched before being replaced by Ryder Yakel, who, unfortunately for the Fish, allowed a home run almost immediately — with Scott Combs sending one over the left field fence to extend the lead to 6-4 for the Canaries. The Fish tied the game at the bottom of the seventh thanks to RBI singles from Andy Armstrong and Enríquez. 'I feel great, I feel good, thank God,' said Enríquez. 'I got good at-bats and helped the team to win. I'm here to just help the team to win… I'm glad I can contribute for the team to win some ball games.' The Canaries didn't lose their lead for long, with Combs' second home run of the game making it 7-6 at the top of the eighth, but the Goldeyes didn't flinch, with Jacson Robson stealing a base and advancing to third on a catcher error before being brought in by a Lynch single to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Kewshawn Lynch ended up being the game hero, scoring the winning run, with right handed pitcher Trevor Brigden closing out the game for the Fish. The Goldeyes continue their homestand Friday, opening a three-game series against the Sioux City Explorers. Game time is 7 p.m. 'Another division opponent, so we gotta win another series,' said Watkins. '…We haven't really got on a winning streak, where we've won three, four, five, six in a row or anything like that. But you win enough series, eventually your records gonna look right.' On Saturday, the Goldeyes (17-19) will host National Indigenous Peoples Day at Blue Cross Park, featuring live entertainment celebrating Indigenous culture, music, and dance. Manitoba Blue Cross is also donating 400 game tickets and food vouchers to individuals who have been displaced by wildfires.
