By Darrin Bauming (@DarrinBauming)
The Winnipeg Goldeyes wrapped their first homestand of the season Sunday with a 6-5 win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats, rebounding nicely from a 4-0 loss on Saturday night. The victory puts the Fish 2.5 games up on the St. Paul Saints for the American Association’s North Division lead with a record of 11-4.
In their six-game homestand, the Goldeyes went 5-1 by sweeping the South Division leading Amarillo Sox and taking two of three against the Central Division’s RailCats.
“I’m so happy I can help my team win,” said infielder Yurendell de Caster following his fifth-inning grand slam.
Despite a pedestrian .213 average at the plate, Goldeyes manager Rick Forney has kept de Caster batting cleanup. His three homeruns lead the team.
“I know we have a good team,” added de Caster. “If we keep playing the way we’re playing, I think we’re going to have a good road trip.”
Winnipeg now heads south for a seven-day, seven-game trip through Lincoln, Nebraska and Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota. The Fish start with four games against the Saltdogs in the Cornhusker State before taking on the RedHawks on their way home through the Dakotas.
In their 19th season, the Goldeyes are off to one of their best starts in franchise history. They currently hold the second-best record in the entire 13-team AA, trailing only the Central Division’s 13-3 Wichita Wingnuts.
The Fish return to Shaw Park for a three-game set against the Saltdogs, beginning Monday, June 11.
Sunday, Goldeyes starter Andrew ‘Ace’ Walker captured his 40th career victory with Winnipeg (2-0, 3.32 ERA in 2012) and tossed three strikeouts, putting him into a tie with manager Rick Forney for the team’s all-time strikeout lead with 313. Walker captured the team’s all-time wins record in 2011.
