Sweeney, Duncan propel Goldeyes over Saints
Photo: Winnipeg Goldeyes/Twitter
July 15, 2020
By Steve Schuster
Canadian Baseball Network
SIOUX FALLS, SD – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (6-5) beat the St. Paul Saints 4-3 at Sioux Falls Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Saints (5-6) served as the home team.
Kevin Lachance opened the game with a full-count walk and advanced to second on Darnell Sweeney’s sharp single through the middle. Lachance advanced to third on Logan Hill’s deep fly ball to left-centre. Two batters later, Sweeney stole second base. Saints’ third baseman Chesney Young gloved Pickering Ont., native Eric Wood’s slow roller up the third base line, but bounced his throw across the diamond. Lachance and Sweeney both scored on what was ruled a two-base throwing error.
Lachance drew another leadoff walk in the top of the third, and was followed by an opposite-field, two-run home run to left from Sweeney. Sweeney has homered in three consecutive games.
Goldeyes’ starter Frank Duncan worked through five scoreless innings on just 40 pitches before the Saints got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, RBI single by Young. Prior to Young’s single, Sweeney made a diving catch in deep left-centre to rob Justin Byrd of extra bases with runners on first and second.
Troy Alexander led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run down the right field line, and the Saints pulled within 4-3 on another two-out, RBI single from Young. Kevin McGovern struck out John Silviano on a full count to end the frame and strand the tying run on first.
In the bottom of the ninth, Victor Capellan struck out Alexander to strand the tying run on second and earn his first save of the year. It was Capellan’s 65th all-time save in the American Association, which ties Chris Thompson for second place in league history.
Duncan (2-1) earned the win, allowing one earned run on four hits over six innings. Duncan walked none, struck out five, and threw just 57 pitches.
Kent Hasler struck out two during a perfect bottom of the seventh in relief of Duncan.
Eddie Medina (0-2) started for the Saints and took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on three hits in seven innings. Medina walked four and struck out one.
The rubber match of the three-game series is Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. John Gorman (0-0, 1.42) makes his first start of the year against Saints’ right-hander Matthew Solter (2-0, 2.84). All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca