Six-run sixth inning powers Goldeyes past Monarchs

It looked like the Winnipeg Goldeyes weren’t going to muster a hit Tuesday night against the Kansas City Monarchs — until a six-run sixth inning suddenly propelled the Fish to a 7-3 victory.

Winnipeg roots run deep for new member of Goldeyes

From just south of the border, Cadyn Schwabe is the first player from North Dakota to play with the Winnipeg Goldeyes after signing with the Fish on June 29.

From watching the team as a kid, Schwabe, born and raised in Thompson, N.D., a small town about 22 km south of Grand Forks, has Winnipeg connections and is happy to be a Goldeye.

The outfielder is actually a dual-citizen thanks to his father, Jason Schwabe, being from Winnipeg.

Jason played baseball at Mayville State and professionally in Australia — but he also made his impact in Manitoba, playing with Scott Neiles (former Goldeyes coach from 1994-2000) on the St. Boniface Native Sons, a Manitoba Senior baseball team.

Goldeyes winning arms race

The late, great Earl Weaver was once asked, “What is the key to success in professional baseball?”

“Nobody likes to hear it, because it’s dull, but the reason you win or lose is darn near always the same — pitching,” the Hall of Fame manager stated.

Wise words, indeed, and ones that are certainly ringing true these days for the Winnipeg Goldeyes. The American Association club has been piling up the victories lately, thanks mainly to the marvellous efforts of the men on the mound.

First-year manager Logan Watkins has assembled an 11-man pitching staff that currently tops the 12-team loop with a sparkling 3.59 earned-run-average. To put that in perspective, the league average right now is 4.73.

Fish squeak past Cougars on late fielding error

Gio Brusa and the Winnipeg Goldeyes had some home-field luck on their side Wednesday.

The designated hitter for the Fish hit a grounder with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning that was misplayed by Kane County Cougars’ second baseman Josh Allen, allowing the tying and winning runs to score.

The Goldeyes and a crowd of 6,438 — including a sea of enthusiastic school kids taking in the rare late-morning start at Blue Cross Field — celebrated a 4-3 comeback win against the American Association’s East Division leaders.

The error allowed Miles Simington (who led off the ninth with a double) and Rob Emery (who was hit by a pitch) to scamper home.

Goldeyes fall 9-4 to Saltdogs

When it rained, it poured on Grant Townsend.

As a large rain cloud began to roll over downtown Winnipeg in the seventh inning of Friday’s contest against the Lincoln Saltdogs, the Goldeyes reliever was amid a storm of his own on the baseball diamond.

Townsend assumed a 3-2 lead from starting pitcher Travis Seabrooke, who tossed 6 2/3 strong innings with four strikeouts, and watched it disappear on two swings. First was Saltdogs left fielder Aaron Takacs, who sent a long blast over the right field wall for a grand slam.

A couple of batters later, centerfielder Nick Anderson sent a three-run shot over the wall in left to blow it open just before a 44-minute rain delay sent the teams to the locker room.

Goldeyes add local talent to lineup

Logan Warkentin took an extra breath to take in Blue Cross Park on Sunday.

The Winnipeg-born outfielder had been in the stands on countless occasions as a fan but on this day was in the dugout as a member of the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

Warkentin was acquired Saturday evening in a corresponding move after the club transferred the contract of Canadian outfielder Adam Hall to the major-league Milwaukee Brewers.

The Fish turned to the versatile local player — who can also pitch — with a roster spot open

Goldeyes manager lures old friend out of retirement with spot in rotation

Zac Reininger and Logan Watkins shared a laugh as they hit ground balls to the Winnipeg Goldeyes infielders during batting practice Wednesday.

They may have joked about Reininger, a pitcher, taking swings before starting a game later that evening — an unconventional approach for the position — or relived a funny story from their playing days.

As funny as it may sound for a player and manager, Reininger and Watkins share one of the closest relationships on the Goldeyes this season.

In fact, the biggest driver for the strong-arm from San Antonio, Texas, agreeing to come out of retirement and play in Winnipeg was knowing Watkins would be at the helm.

Fish blast past Dogs in home-opener

A healthy Adam Hall is a weapon for the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

In his first game back after missing a week with quad tightness, the 24-year-old went three-for-four with a walk and a home run as the designated hitter to spur the Goldeyes’ offence in a 6-1 win over the Chicago Dogs in Tuesday’s home opener at the downtown park.

“You see what he’s capable of tonight and you kind of really wish you could have had him through the stretch on the road there because we lost some close games and he could have been one of the guys that tipped us over the edge on a couple of those close games,” said manager Logan Watkins.

Hall, who has been tasked as the club’s leadoff hitter to start the year, continues to sizzle out of the gates with a .545 batting average through the first three contests of his career in Winnipeg.