By Darrin Bauming (@DarrinBauming)
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Goldeyes continue to play the role of ‘comeback kids.’
The Fish erased an early five-run deficit to beat the Amarillo Sox 7-6 Wednesday night in front of 6,434 fans at Winnipeg’s downtown ballpark, capturing their sixth come-from-behind victory on the young season. They remain atop the American Association’s North Division with a sparkling 8-3 record.
Things were rough early on. Three first-inning Winnipeg errors equated four unearned Amarillo runs. Goldeyes starter Chris Salamida’s lone earned run against in five complete innings of work came in the second when Tim Albert’s solo-homerun made it 5-0 Sox.
Winnipeg came right back in the fourth as designated hitter Yurendell de Caster, fresh off serving a one-game suspension stemming from an incident in El Paso on Saturday, crushed his second homerun of the season, a first pitch three-run shot to left-centre that cut the Amarillo lead to a pair.
The Fish captured the lead two innings later as a Luis Alen single scored Dan Barbero from second before Ridge Carpenter ripped a two-out triple down the right-field line scoring Alen and Josh Mazzola.
A Sox sac-fly tied it 6-6 in the seventh, setting up a thrilling finish in the bottom of the ninth.
With two out and the bases loaded, the veteran Alen, who finished 3-for-5 with 2 RBI on the night, smacked a line drive right up the gut to clinch the victory and assure the series win.
Goldeyes closer Nick Carr earned his first win of the year.
Winnipeg and Amarillo wrap their three-game this morning at 11 a.m.
