June 14, 2019

By Steve Schuster

Winnipeg Goldeyes

The Winnipeg Goldeyes get their first look at the expansion Milwaukee Milkmen this weekend.

The clubs play a three-game series over two days at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Kokomo, Ind.

The Milkmen were expected to play at state-of-the-art Routine Field in Franklin, Wisc., but the harsh winter led to construction delays, and the first-year franchise will not move into its permanent home until later this month.

However, what could have been a disastrous situation for the American Association’s travel schedule was resolved with minimal consternation.

ROC Ventures, the Milwaukee-based company that owns the Milkmen, also manages the Northwoods League’s Kokomo Jackrabbits. Making Kokomo Municipal Stadium available to the American Association was an easy fix.

Franklin and Kokomo are roughly 250 miles apart. While that’s an extra four hours on the bus, the Kokomo solution prevented teams such as the Goldeyes from having to trek all the way back to Winnipeg after just three days in the Chicagoland area.

Despite an old fashioned sounding name, Kokomo Municipal Stadium was actually built in 2015, and is one of the premier facilities in the Northwoods League.

A full college season in the U.S. is usually 50 to 60 games. Summer circuits such as the Northwoods League provide college players the opportunity to condition their bodies for the eventual rigors of a professional schedule. Northwoods clubs play a 72-game schedule.

The Goldeyes and Milkmen originally were scheduled to play a typical weekend series. However, the Jackrabbits begin a new series at home on Sunday afternoon. That meant the Goldeyes would have had to either play at an early morning hour on Sunday, or stick around through the evening on getaway day to complete their set with Milwaukee. The clubs agreed to play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, which effectively gives Winnipeg back-to-back days off.

The Milkmen were 11-15 entering Thursday, and six games back of the St. Paul Saints for the North Division lead. As a frame of reference, the Chicago Dogs were just 6-20 after 26 contests during their expansion year in 2018.

Milwaukee’s rotation is led by former Major League left-hander TJ House, who made two appearances for the Blue Jays in 2017. House is 4-0 with a 3.06 ERA, and will face Winnipeg during Saturday’s doubleheader. Hard-throwing right-hander Myles Smith, who previously pitched for Kansas City and Gary SouthShore, has six saves and 21 strikeouts in just 10.1 innings.

Offensively, the Milkmen already have hit 20 home runs, including five apiece from outfielders Nolan Early and former Minnesota Twins top prospect Adam Brett Walker.

One unique feature of Kokomo Municipal Stadium is the pitcher’s mound, which is made of artificial field turf. The Depot at Cleburne Station in Cleburne and AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie also have artificial surfaces, but in both cases, the parks have natural dirt pitching mounds.

GOLDEYES SHUT OUT GARY

The Winnipeg Goldeyes beat the Gary SouthShore RailCats 5-0 at US Steel Yard on Thursday night.

Goldeyes starting pitcher Mitchell Lambson threw a complete game, six-hit shutout to earn the victory. Lambson struck out eight, walked none, and threw first-pitch strikes to 23 of the 33 batters that he faced.

Winnipeg provided Lambson with all the support he needed in the top of the fourth inning. Dominic Ficociello singled home Willy Garcia with the game’s first run. Reggie Abercrombie followed with a triple off the wall in centre that made it 2-0. Gary SouthShore nearly limited the Goldeyes to the two runs before James Harris lined a two-out single to centre that scored Abercrombie.

Harris added an RBI single in the sixth, while Garcia lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Lambson’s effort was the first complete game by a Goldeyes’ pitcher this season. It was also the team’s first shutout of the year.

WINNIPEG GOLDEYES 5, GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS 0

WINNING PITCHER:

WPG: Mitchell Lambson (3-1)

LOSING PITCHER:

GARY: Kaleb Fontenot (0-3)

THE SKINNY:

Mitchell Lambson delivered a complete game, six-hit shutout to help the Goldeyes win the rubber match of their three-game series against the RailCats.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

Lambson finished what he started on 113 pitches, and has thrown four complete games for the Goldeyes over the past two seasons. Lambson had made just one career start prior to 2018.

PLAY OF THE GAME:

RailCats second baseman Andy DeJesus robbed Kevin Garcia of a base hit with a diving catch on a line drive up the middle in the top of the third.

NEXT UP:

The Goldeyes open a three-game series against the expansion Milwaukee Milkmen on Friday. First pitch from Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Indiana is at 6:05 p.m. CT. The game can be heard live on 93.7 FM.