If You Build It
Paul Duque • October 25, 2023
To commemorate our 30th anniversary season, Ron Arnst spoke with several key figures from our past and created multimedia articles which first appeared in the Goldeyes Digital Magazine throughout the 2023 season. For those who may have missed those articles, we will be reposting them here on Goldeyes.com. Enjoy!
By Ron Arnst
One of the first tasks Sam Katz had shortly after purchasing a franchise in the Northern League and bringing professional baseball back to Winnipeg was finding a place to play.
In 1994, Winnipeg did not have a dedicated baseball stadium suitable to house the new pro team. So the Goldeyes’ owner had no option but to enter a partnership of convenience with the non-profit Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation, owner of Winnipeg Stadium and Winnipeg Arena.
It was not a happy union.
The makeshift baseball field was jammed into a corner of Winnipeg Stadium, the home field for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It featured artificial turf throughout and the shortest of short porches in left field.
Years later, Katz admitted the distance down the left field line was not the advertised 300 feet but closer to 280.
While the Goldeyes were finding their way on the field, Sam Katz was busy navigating the nooks and crannies of his partnership arrangement with Winnipeg Enterprises. He had varying degrees of success engaging his partner in giving the team and their fans what they needed.
But he also piled up mountains of frustration.
After one year of trying to make a success of the awkward arrangement and the quirky field, Katz knew he had to find a way to build his own ballpark.
It would be four more years before opportunity knocked.
The announcement that Winnipeg would host the 1999 Pan Am Games was the opportunity Katz had been waiting for.
Baseball was a high profile part of the Games, and Winnipeg needed a big time ballpark to host the competition.
Fueled by federal and provincial funding, the Goldeyes’ owner put together a proposal for a new ballpark. The plan featured the majority investment coming from private sources (in the end Katz alone footed the bill) with the new park to be located at The Forks.
Armed with a 100-page, professionally drafted business plan and a funding plan relying heavily on private money, Katz was shocked when the City of Winnipeg was not immediately interested, let alone enthusiastic. Negotiations dragged on, becoming increasingly acrimonious. Finally, faced with looming deadlines, Katz agreed to what the City wanted even though he felt strongly that it was a bad deal.
The time had come to build a ballpark.
General Manager John Hindle recalled several exploratory visits to ballparks in search of the best layout.
It was a visit to Fargo and the new Newman Outdoor Field that Hindle credits for a feature that would quickly become a calling card for Winnipeg’s facility: Concessions with clear site lines to the field so fans wouldn’t miss a minute of the action.
The renowned publication Ballpark Digest didn’t miss that feature in their review of the Goldeyes’ new home park:
“There’s a certain type of ballpark currently in vogue in the minor leagues: a raised mezzanine packed with concession stands, with a grandstand sloping down to the playing field. There are many advantages to this layout: the mezzanine area can accommodate socializing and fans can hit the concession stands without missing any of the action. There are a host of new ballparks adopting this model. Shaw Park fits in that mold, with an expansive mezzanine level, skyboxes, and large gift shop.”
The ballpark opened on May 24, 1999.
Goldeyes’ starting pitcher Shawn Onley threw the first pitch and Lundar, Manitoba’s Troy Fortin caught it. Fortin had joined the Goldeyes after requesting his release from the Minnesota Twins. He turned out to be a key contributor to the Goldeyes’ that year, batting .323.
The first year was a great success with 248,488 fans attending; an average of more than 6,000 per game.
The Goldeyes scheduled an extended road trip for midway through their 1999 season to make the ballpark available to the Pan Am Games.
The 1999 Pan Am baseball competition was historic as it was the first one that allowed professional players to take part. Play began July 25 and concluded August 2. A total of nine teams competed: Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the United States.
With Goldeyes’ catcher Troy Fortin representing Manitoba (Fortin hit a remarkable .407), Team Canada scored a historic first, by claiming a Pan American Games baseball medal.
The Canadians had a strong start to the tournament winning all four of their round robin games including impressive wins over the United States and Cuba.
The win over the Americans was one of the most memorable. The US had a 6-3 lead with two out in the bottom of the 11th. Canada’s Andy Stewart electrified the wildly pro-Canada crowd with a booming 3-run homer to tie the game. Three batters later, the bases were loaded and 2B Stubby Clapp became Canada’s favorite son with a single to that scored the winning run. 7-6 Canada!
Canada faced perennial Pan Am baseball champions Cuba in the semi-finals. The Canadians had run roughshod over a listless Cuban squad in the round robin, beating them soundly 8-1. But the playoffs are a different beast. Canada took an early 2-0 lead. However, Cuban legend Omar Linares hit a 3-run homer in the third inning to give the defending Pan Am champions a lead they would not relinquish.
Falling short of the gold medal game, Team Canada faced Mexico for the bronze medal. Andy Stewart hit his tournament-best fourth homer and led Team Canada to the bronze medal with a 9-2 win.
Christened by a crowd of 6,708 on Opening Day and boosted into the international spotlight by the Pan Am Games, Winnipeg’s new ballpark hosted nearly 300,000 fans in 1999 as the Goldeyes reached their fourth Northern League Championship Series. The average attendance of 6,048 per game represented a 98.5 percent capacity for the season. It was a tremendous start for a run of success now entering a 25th year.
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WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (41-58) closed out the 2025 season Monday afternoon at Blue Cross Park, dropping a 12-8 decision to the Sioux City Explorers (64-36). Boxscore The visitors wasted little time getting on the board. With Henry George on second base in the top of the first inning, D’Shawn Knowles drove an opposite-field home run over the left field wall to make it 2-0. Moments later, Zac Vooletich came around on an Abdiel Layer double to right, giving Sioux City a quick 3-0 lead. Winnipeg chipped away immediately in the home half. Keshawn Lynch legged out an infield single to bring home Ramón Bramasco and cut the deficit to 3-1. In the second inning, Bramasco himself came through with a line drive single up the middle that scored Kevin García , making it a one-run game. The comeback continued in the third when Roby Enríquez singled to centre, driving in Matthew Warkentin to pull the Goldeyes even at 3-3. The Explorers answered back in the fourth when Austin Davis hit a two-run homer to left, restoring a 5-3 advantage. One inning later, with two men aboard, Layer struck again with a three-run blast to left that widened the gap to 8-3. The Goldeyes weren’t done, though, and put together their biggest inning of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases full, Ray-Patrick Didder grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring in a run. García followed with a sacrifice fly to centre, and then O’Tremba ripped a double down the left field line to make it 8-6. Bramasco delivered his second RBI of the day with a sharp single, capping off a four-run inning that pulled Winnipeg within one at 8-7. Sioux City kept pressing, adding two runs in the sixth on a Vooletich RBI single and a wild pitch that brought home Josh Day. Winnipeg’s last push came in the seventh when Lynch collected his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that scored O’Tremba, closing the gap to 10-8. The Explorers put the game away in the late innings, as Day singled home Knowles in the eighth, and Nathan Rose added one more insurance run in the ninth for the 12-8 final. Goldeyes starter Ben Kowalski (L, 3-1) was tagged for eight runs on eight hits over four innings, walking two and striking out two. Tasker Strobel , Ryder Yakel , Ben Onyshko , and Derrick Cherry all pitched in relief. Sioux City reliever Nate Gercken (W, 7-2) picked up the victory, working an inning in relief of starter Peniel Otaño. Prior to the game, Bramasco was named Pepsi Goldeyes Player of the Year, while Strobel was honoured as the Manitoba Blue Cross Hardest Working Goldeyes Player. For information about 2026 Season Tickets, Mini Packs, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
WINNIPEG, MB – The Sioux City Explorers (63-36), the top club in the American Association, spoiled the Winnipeg Goldeyes’ (41-57) Sunday afternoon at Blue Cross Park with a 6-1 victory. Boxscore The visitors wasted little time getting on the board. In the top of the first inning, Austin Davis stood at third base when D’Shawn Knowles delivered a single up the middle to make it 1-0. The Goldeyes answered right away in the home half, as Ramón Bramasco launched his seventh home run of the season over the left field wall and onto Waterfront Drive, evening the score at 1-1. From there, Sioux City took control. In the fourth inning, Michael Quiñones reached third and came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kurtis Byrne to restore the Explorers’ lead. The next frame saw Davis once again at the center of the action, crossing the plate on Knowles’ second RBI single of the day. Later in the inning, Josh Day drove in Henry George with a single to centre, extending the lead to 4-1. The Explorers added single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to pull further ahead. Abdiel Layer plated Torin Montgomery with a base hit to right in the sixth, while in the eighth Davis brought home Zac Vooletich with a single to left, rounding out the scoring at 6-1. Winnipeg starter Landen Bourassa (L, 6-6) worked 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on nine hits with two walks and a strikeout. The bullpen saw appearances from Zan Rose and Henry Omaña , who finished the contest. For Sioux City, left-hander Jared Wetherbee (W, 9-4) went five innings, giving up just one run on three hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. The Explorers’ bullpen combination of Ben DeTaeye , Chase Jessee , and Ryan Beaird shut down the Goldeyes the rest of the way. The Goldeyes and Explorers will close out the 2025 season Monday at 1:00 p.m. CDT at Blue Cross Park. Winnipeg right-hander Ben Kowalski (3-0, 1.62 ERA) makes his first home appearance since the May 20 home opener, while Sioux City counters with right-hander Peniel Otaño (2-7, 6.48 ERA). Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 12:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast in French on Envol 91 FM with Yanick LaRoche handling the play-by-play. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . Monday is Fan Appreciation Day, including a team photo giveaway and pre-game on-field autograph session that begins at 11:45 a.m. (gates open at 11:30).
WINNIPEG, MB – The Sioux City Explorers (62-36) evened their four-game series with the Winnipeg Goldeyes (41-56) Saturday evening, earning a 7-3 victory at Blue Cross Park. Boxscore The visitors struck early when Henry George hit a solo home run two batters into the ballgame to give Sioux City a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish. A Nathan Rose sacrifice fly in the fourth doubled the advantage, and Michael Quiñones grounded into a double play in the fifth to bring home George for a 3-0 cushion. The Goldeyes battled back in the bottom of the fifth. With Roby Enríquez on base, Ray-Patrick Didder launched his 10th home run of the season over the left-centre wall to trim the deficit to 3-2. Sioux City quickly responded in the sixth, adding two runs on a bases-loaded walk to D’Shawn Knowles and an RBI single from Josh Day. Day later drove in another with a double in the eighth before Zac Vooletich singled him home to extend the Explorers’ lead to 7-2. Winnipeg pushed across one more run in the eighth when Ramón Bramasco doubled down the right field line to score Jacob Robson , but that was as close as the Goldeyes would get. Goldeyes starter Luke Boyd (L, 5-10) allowed five earned runs over five innings. Reliever Levi Abbott recorded his first professional strikeout in 1.1 innings of work, while Tasker Strobel and Jesse Galindo finished the game out of the bullpen. Sioux City starter J.D. Scholten (W, 1-1) worked six innings of two-run ball, and Jaren Jackson (S, 1) pitched the final four innings. for his first save of the year. The series continues Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CDT at Blue Cross Park. Right-hander Landen Bourassa (6-5, 4.03 ERA) will start for Winnipeg against Sioux City lefty Jared Wetherbee (8-4, 3.36 ERA). Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 12:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast in French on Envol 91 FM with Yanick LaRoche handling the play-by-play. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . Sunday’s game features a free tote bag to the first 2,500 fans through the gates. It’s also Sunday Family Fun Day – an afternoon full of excitement for fans of all ages! The 2025 season concludes Monday with Fan Appreciation Day, which includes a team photo giveaway and pre-game on-field autograph session. For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
WINNIPEG, MB – Jacob Robson ’s three-run home run in the fifth inning sparked the Winnipeg Goldeyes (41-55) to a 7-2 win over the Sioux City Explorers (61-36) Friday evening at Blue Cross Park. Boxscore A crowd of 6,247 – just shy of a season high – saw the West Division leaders open the scoring in the top of the fifth when Abdiel Layer singled home Osvaldo Tovalín to give Sioux City a 1-0 lead. The Goldeyes responded quickly in the home half. With the bases loaded, a balk by Explorers starter Austin Drury brought in Roby Enríquez to tie the game. Moments later, Robson launched a drive over the left field wall, scoring Keshawn Lynch and Kevin García to put Winnipeg ahead 4-1. Sioux City cut the deficit to 4-2 in the eighth on an Austin Davis sacrifice fly, but the Goldeyes answered with three runs in the bottom half. A wild pitch plated Ramón Bramasco before Matthew Warkentin ’s RBI single and a Lynch double into the left-centre gap stretched the lead to 7-2. The Winnipeg bullpen combined for a strong effort on the mound. Spot starter Henry Omaña worked the first two innings before Zan Rose followed with two scoreless frames. Derrick Cherry (W, 3-1) earned the win with two innings of one-run ball, while Ben Onyshko , Trevor Brigden , and Ryder Yakel closed out the victory. Drury (L, 7-4) took the loss for Sioux City, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings. Nate Gercken and Brett Matthews also appeared in relief. The series continues Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Blue Cross Park. Right-hander Luke Boyd (5-9, 4.31 ERA) takes the mound for Winnipeg against Sioux City’s J.D. Scholten (0-1, 7.71 ERA). The first 500 fans through the gates will receive an exclusive 2025 Goldeyes player card set. Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 5:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast in French on Envol 91 FM with Yanick LaRoche handling the play-by-play. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . The last homestand of 2025 also includes a free tote bag to the first 2,500 fans through the gates on Sunday Family Fun Day. The season concludes Monday with Fan Appreciation Day, featuring a team photo giveaway and pre-game on-field autograph session. For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
Photo Credit: Dylan Engel/Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks FARGO, ND – A late comeback attempt fell just short Thursday evening as the Winnipeg Goldeyes (40-55) dropped a 5-4 decision to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (54-42) at Newman Outdoor Field. Boxscore Fargo-Moorhead jumped out to an early lead when first baseman José Sermo hit a two-run home run down the left field line with one out in the bottom of the first inning. First baseman Matthew Warkentin answered quickly for the Goldeyes, lining his 15 th home run of the season over the wall in the right field corner to make the score 2-1 in the top of the second. Warkentin is now tied with Max Murphy for the team lead. The RedHawks surged ahead with three runs in their half of the inning. Third baseman Nicholas Northcut brought in Michael Hallquist with a base hit to right-centre field. Shortstop Aidan Byrne’s sacrifice fly to right scored Brendon Dadson to make it 4-1, before centre fielder Lamar Sparks lined a single to left that brought in Northcut to give Fargo-Moorhead a four-run lead. Starting pitchers Mitchell Lambson and Jake Dykhoff locked things down through the middle innings, but Winnipeg quickly got to the RedHawks’ bullpen in the eighth inning, scoring three times to pull to within one. Centre fielder Jacob Robson drew a bases-loaded walk that forced in Roby Enríquez to make the score 5-2. One batter later, third baseman Ramón Bramasco punched a two-out single through the left side of the infield that drove in Rob Emery and Keshawn Lynch . However, that is as close as the Goldeyes would get. Dykhoff (W, 11-4) went 7.1 innings and allowed just a run on one hit while striking out five. Garrett Alexander (S, 13) sent Winnipeg down in order in the ninth. Lambson (L, 8-6) put in seven innings of work, allowing five runs on six hits. Lethbridge, Alberta’s Levi Abbott made his professional debut in the bottom of the eighth inning. He surrendered a hit but faced the minimum thanks to a double play turned behind him. The Goldeyes host the league-leading Sioux City Explorers Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Blue Cross Park. Winnipeg will send right-hander Henry Omaña (0-0, 2.07 ERA) to the mound, while Sioux City will counter with lefty Austin Drury (7-3, 3.66 ERA). Friday’s game will feature the final post-game fireworks show of 2025! Fans can join Trevor Curl for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast in French on Envol 91 FM with Yanick LaRoche handling the play-by-play. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . The last homestand of 2025 also includes a player card giveaway for the first 500 fans Saturday, and a free tote bag to the first 2,500 fans through the gates on Sunday Family Fun Day. The season concludes Monday with Fan Appreciation Day, featuring a team photo giveaway and pre-game on-field autograph session. For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
Photo Credit: Dylan Engel/Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks FARGO, ND – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (39-54) secured a series victory Wednesday evening with a 3-1 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (53-41) at Newman Outdoor Field. Boxscore Winnipeg struck first in the top of the third inning when Rob Emery doubled down the right-field line, driving in Roby Enríquez and Max Murphy for a 2-0 lead. The Goldeyes added to their advantage in the fifth on a Miles Simington sacrifice fly that scored Enríquez, making it 3-0. Fargo-Moorhead’s lone run came in the sixth on a solo home run from Lamar Sparks. Ben Kowalski (W, 3-0) turned in a quality start for Winnipeg, working six innings and allowing just one run on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Kolby Kiser (L, 4-5) took the loss for the RedHawks, giving up three runs on six hits across six innings with two walks and two strikeouts. The Goldeyes’ bullpen shut the door with scoreless innings from Tasker Strobel , Trevor Brigden , and Ryder Yakel (S, 8), who earned his eighth save of the season. Fargo-Moorhead countered with relief appearances from Parker Harm, Colten Davis, and Alex DuBord. The series concludes Thursday at 7:02 p.m. in Fargo, with Winnipeg aiming for its second sweep of the season. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson (8-5, 4.76 ERA) will start for the Goldeyes against RedHawks right-hander Jake Dykhoff (10-4, 1.66 ERA). Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . The Goldeyes return home to Blue Cross Park Friday, August 29 for a four-game series against the Sioux City Explorers. The final homestand of 2025 includes post-game fireworks Friday, a player card giveaway for the first 500 fans Saturday, and a free tote bag to the first 2,500 fans through the gates on Sunday Family Fun Day. The season concludes Monday with Fan Appreciation Day, featuring a team photo giveaway and pre-game on-field autograph session. For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
Photo Credit: Dylan Engel/Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks FARGO, ND – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (39-54) rallied in multiple innings to take the opener of their final road trip of the season with a 7-3 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (53-41) Tuesday evening at Newman Outdoor Field. Boxscore The Goldeyes jumped out early in the top of the second inning. Miles Simington and Matthew Warkentin drew back-to-back walks to set the table, before Keshawn Lynch lined a single to right to make it 1-0. Ray-Patrick Didder followed with a sacrifice fly to score Warkentin, and Kevin García capped the inning with an opposite-field single to plate Lynch for a 3-0 lead. In the fifth, Simington doubled into the right-centre field gap to score Max Murphy and extend the lead to 4-0. Fargo-Moorhead got on the board in the home half on a safety squeeze by Aiden Byrne that brought in Michael Hallquist, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Winnipeg answered quickly with another three-run frame in the sixth. With Roby Enríquez on first, Lynch ripped a single to right-centre that scored Enríquez all the way from first base. García later notched his second RBI of the night with a base hit to right, and Jacob Robson added an RBI single to stretch the advantage to 7-1. The RedHawks picked up a pair of runs late, as José Sermo launched a solo home run in the sixth and Dillon Thomas singled home Byrne in the seventh, but the Goldeyes’ bullpen shut the door the rest of the way to secure the win. Landen Bourassa (W, 6-5) earned the victory, working five innings while allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts. The bullpen combined for four innings of two-run ball, with appearances from Tasker Strobel , Henry Omaña , Ben Onyshko , and Derrick Cherry . Kyle Crigger (L, 7-5) was tagged with the loss, charged with six runs on nine hits across six innings. The series continues Wednesday at 7:02 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field. Winnipeg’s Ben Kowalski (2-0, 1.66 ERA), in his third start since rejoining the Goldeyes, will match up against Fargo-Moorhead’s Kolby Kiser (3-4, 4.10 ERA). Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . The Goldeyes return home to Blue Cross Park Friday, August 29 for a four-game series against the Sioux City Explorers. The final homestand of 2025 includes post-game fireworks Friday, a player card giveaway for the first 500 fans Saturday, and a free tote bag to the first 2,500 fans through the gates on Sunday Family Fun Day. The season concludes Monday with Fan Appreciation Day, featuring a team photo giveaway and pre-game on-field autograph session. For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes’ (38-54) offence exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on their way to a 9-0 shutout win over the Lincoln Saltdogs (36-56) Sunday afternoon at Blue Cross Park. Boxscore The Goldeyes sent 15 batters to the plate in the decisive frame. Max Murphy opened the scoring with a single to centre, and Miles Simington followed with an infield hit that plated Ramón Bramasco . Tanner O’Tremba stretched the lead to 4-0 with a two-run single to right, before Kevin García drove home two more with a liner to centre. Jacob Robson added an RBI single, Murphy notched his second run-scoring hit of the inning, and Simington capped the outburst by drawing a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-0. On the mound, Luke Boyd (W, 5-9) was dominant, tossing seven shutout innings while scattering four hits, walking two, and striking out seven. Ryder Yakel finished off the final two frames, allowing just one hit and fanning a pair. Lincoln reliever David Shaw (L, 1-3) took the loss, surrendering four runs on three hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning. The Goldeyes now head out for their final road trip of the season, opening a three-game series Tuesday at 7:02 p.m. CDT at Newman Outdoor Field against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Landen Bourassa (5-5, 4.18 ERA) is scheduled to start for Winnipeg opposite right-hander Kyle Crigger (7-4, 3.29 ERA). Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . The Goldeyes return home to Blue Cross Park Friday, August 29 for a four-game series against the Sioux City Explorers. For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (37-54) fell into an early deficit for the second straight game and fell 6-2 to the Lincoln Saltdogs (36-55) Saturday evening at Blue Cross Park. Boxscore Lincoln opened the scoring in the first on a Neyfy Castillo RBI single before breaking out for four runs in the second inning, highlighted by RBIs from Danny Bautista Jr., Mikey Kane, and Rolando Espinosa, to build a 5-0 lead. Jack Cone added an RBI single in the third to make it 6-0. The Goldeyes responded in the fifth when Miles Simington tripled home Ramón Bramasco and Max Murphy , cutting the deficit to 6-2, but that was as close as Winnipeg would get. Tasker Strobel (L, 3-5) was tagged for five runs in 1.2 innings, while Derrick Cherry struck out seven over 3.1 innings of relief, allowing just an unearned run. Jhon Vargas (W, 3-3) earned the win for Lincoln, working five innings and limiting Winnipeg to two runs on seven hits. The series concludes Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CDT when the Goldeyes send Luke Boyd (4-9, 4.68 ERA) to the mound against Lincoln right-hander Franny Cobos (5-2, 4.57 ERA). Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 12:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast in French on Envol 91 FM with Yanick LaRoche handling the play-by-play. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . All fans in attendance Sunday have a chance to win a fabulous trip for two to Churchill courtesy of Calm Air. It’s also Save-On-Foods Sunday Family Fun Day! For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (37-53) could not overcome a seven-run fifth inning outburst by the Lincoln Saltdogs (35-55) and dropped the opener of a three-game series 10-5 Friday evening at Blue Cross Park. Boxscore Winnipeg opened the scoring in the first inning. With Ramón Bramasco on third, Miles Simington bounced into a fielder’s choice to give the Goldeyes a 1-0 lead. Lincoln answered in the second. Rolando Espinosa belted his first of two home runs on the night, a two-run shot that scored Mikey Kane and put the Saltdogs ahead 2-1. Later in the inning, Jake Cone singled home Griffin Everitt to extend the lead to 3-1. The Goldeyes trimmed the deficit in the third when Max Murphy singled up the middle to score Jacob Robson , making it 3-2. The Saltdogs broke the game wide open in the fifth with a seven-run inning. Espinosa went deep again, while Brody Fahr, Neyfy Castillo, and Kyle Battle – with a two-run homer – all drove in runs to stretch the lead to 10-2. Winnipeg answered in the bottom of the inning as Matthew Warkentin launched his 14th home run of the season, a two-run shot that also brought home Murphy. Murphy later scored again in the seventh on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 10-5, but that was as close as the Goldeyes would get. Mitchell Lambson (L, 8-5) worked five innings, allowing 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits while striking out two. In the outing, Lambson passed Chris Salamida for second place on the Goldeyes’ all-time strikeouts list. Zan Rose impressed in relief, tossing four shutout innings with five strikeouts. Nate Blain (W, 5-5) picked up the victory for Lincoln, giving up four earned runs on seven hits over five innings. Johnny Blake and Dominic Freeberger closed out the game from the Saltdogs’ bullpen. The series continues Saturday at 6:00 p.m. CDT at Blue Cross Park. Southpaw Tasker Strobel (3-4, 2.59 ERA) will start for Winnipeg, while Lincoln will send former Goldeyes right-hander Jhon Vargas (2-3, 7.73 ERA) to the mound. Fans can join me, Trevor Curl , for all the action live on CJNU 93.7 FM and online at cjnu.ca , with the pregame show beginning at 5:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast in French on Envol 91 FM with Yanick LaRoche handling the play-by-play. The video stream of all Goldeyes games is available free of charge at AABaseball.TV . Saturday is the ever-popular Bark in the Park game, where fans can bring their dogs to enjoy the game! The weekend wraps up with a Churchill Trip Giveaway on Sunday Family Fun Day. For information about Single Game Tickets, Skysuites, and Group Packages, please visit Goldeyes.com/Tickets .
