Winnipeg Goldeyes Daily Clippings Friday, August 23

WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23rd, 2019

- Goldeyes’ Playoff Hopes Fading—Winnipeg Sun, 8/23/19 - Lambson’s Complete Game Not Enough in Pitcher’s Duel—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 8/22/19 - Wright’s K’s Nine in Shutout Win vs. Winnipeg—Chicago Dogs (Sam Brief), 8/22/19 - Future of T-Bones in Question—Winnipeg Sun, 8/22/19 - Dogs’ Season Could Be a Movie—Winnipeg Sun, 8/21/19 - Lambson Named Pitcher of the Week—Winnipeg Sun, 8/20/19 - Lambson Named Pitcher of the Week—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 8/19/19 - Hill Crushing It—Winnipeg Sun, 8/18/19 - Chicago Dogs Players Help Park Ridge Teen With ‘Home Run For Life’ (Video Link)—Chicago Daily Herald, 8/11/19

GOLDEYES’ PLAYOFF HOPES FADING WINNIPEG SUN – FRIDAY, AUGUST 23rd The Winnipeg Goldeyes lost 2-0 to the Chicago Dogs at Impact Field on Thursday night.

Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Victor Roache drove a two-out double to centre that scored Edwin Arroyo.

Gustavo Pierre led off the bottom of the second with a home run to left that made it 2-0 and proved to be the final run of the night for either side.

Both pitching staffs were stellar with Chicago starter Austin Wright picking up the win. The left-hander recorded six shutout innings on just two hits. Wright walked two and struck out nine. It was the 11th time in 18 starts Wright fanned seven batters or more.

Left-handers Casey Crosby and Rich Mascheri each tossed a scoreless inning in relief of Wright.

Kyle Halbohn pitched around a leadoff single from Tyler Marincov in the top of the ninth to earn his 12th save.

Goldeyes’ starting pitcher Mitchell Lambson took a tough-luck, complete game loss. Lambson allowed just two earned runs on six hits in eight innings. Lambson walked none, struck out seven, and remains in contention for the first pitching triple crown in American Association history.

Lambson’s four complete games this season are now tied for third on the Goldeyes’ single-season list. The club record is six, accomplished by Andrew (Ace) Walker in 2009.

Marincov has hit safely in nine consecutive games.

The loss trims the Goldeyes’ elimination number down to five with 11 games remaining on the schedule.

CHICAGO DOGS 2, WINNIPEG GOLDEYES 0 WINNING PITCHER: CHI: Austin Wright (6-7) LOSING PITCHER: WPG: Mitchell Lambson (12-3) SAVE CHI: Kyle Halbohn (12) HOME RUN CHI: Gustavo Pierre (6)

THE SKINNY: The Goldeyes fell short in a pitchers’ duel at Impact Field as the Dogs blanked Winnipeg 2-0 to even up the three-game series.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chicago starter Austin Wright’s fastball sat in the low 90s all evening, and the left-hander struck out nine batters over six innings to notch the win.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Dogs shortstop Gustavo Pierre speared Reggie Abercrombie’s line drive in the top of the ninth to prevent the Goldeyes from putting the tying run on base.

NEXT UP: The series concludes Friday at 7:05 p.m. Parker French takes on all-star left-hander Luke Westphal who will be activated from the disabled list. The game can be heard on 93.7 FM.

LAMBSON’S COMPLETE GAME NOT ENOUGH IN PITCHER’S DUEL STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – THURSDAY, AUGUST 22nd ROSEMONT, IL – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (49-40) lost 2-0 to the Chicago Dogs at Impact Field on Thursday night.

Victor Roache hit a two-out, RBI double in the bottom of the first to drive in the game’s first run. Gustavo Pierre made it 2-0 with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second.

Dogs’ starting pitcher Austin Wright (6-7) picked up the win with six shutout innings on two hits. Wright walked two and struck out nine.

Mitchell Lambson (12-3) took a tough-luck, complete game loss for the Goldeyes, allowing two earned runs on six hits over eight innings. Lambson walked none, struck out seven, and at one point, retired 15 consecutive batters. It was Lambson’s fourth complete game of the year, which is tied for third on the Goldeyes’ single-season list.

After Casey Crosby and Rich Mascheri each worked a scoreless inning in relief of Wright, Kyle Halbohn pitched around a leadoff single from Tyler Marincov in the top of the ninth to earn his 12th save.

Marincov has hit safely in nine consecutive games.

The series concludes Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Parker French (5-5, 5.42) takes on left-hander Luke Westphal (10-2, 3.03). All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

The Goldeyes return home on Tuesday, August 27th when they host the Gary SouthShore RailCats at Shaw Park. Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

WRIGHT K’S NINE IN SHUTOUT WIN VS. WINNIPEG SAM BRIEF – CHICAGO DOGS – THURSDAY, AUGUST 22nd ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Gustavo Pierre homered for the third straight game, Austin Wright dominated and the Chicago Dogs evened the series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes with a 2-0 shutout win on Thursday night at Impact Field.

Wright (W, 6-7) was spectacular, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out nine over six shutout innings. It marked the Schaumburg native’s seventh start with at least eight strikeouts this season, and the left-hander has accumulated 35 whiffs over his last four starts.

Victor Roache opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with an RBI double off the left-field wall, plating Edwin Arroyo, to put the Dogs up 1-0.

Pierre then led off the bottom of the second with a solo shot, his third homer in as many games, to double the Dogs’ lead.

Wright cruised with five strikeouts and just one hit allowed over the next four innings, preserving the 2-0 lead.

Casey Crosby took over in the top of the seventh and promptly hurled a 1-2-3 inning. Rich Mascheri followed suit in the eighth with a perfect frame of his own.

With the tying run at the plate, Kyle Halbohn forced Willy Garcia to strike out to cap off the game, earning his twelfth save of the season.

The Dogs will activate dominant LHP Luke Westphal (10-2, 3.03 ERA) off the disabled

FUTURE OF T-BONES IN QUESTION WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, AUGUST 22nd On Monday, multiple news outlets reported that the Kansas City T-Bones would need to vacate T-Bones Stadium by Sept. 13.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City (UG) cited missed rent and utility payments as the reason for the decision.

“We have been in close communication with the UG, keeping them apprised of our status as we work toward a sale of the club,” T-Bones president Adam Ehlert said in a press release. “We remain optimistic that a solution will be reached in the short-term, to retain baseball in a great market, for the long-term. The millions of fans who have enjoyed our product over nearly two decades should share our optimism for the future as we work to close the sale to the next operator of this franchise.”

As reported by Kevin Hardy of The Kansas City Star, T-Bones’ ownership has been looking to sell the franchise for several months.

In the team release, Ehlert expressed surprise at the timing of the UG’s announcement, and indicated there was a publically mutual understanding that a sale would not be completed or announced until after the baseball season.

The American Association regular season concludes on Sept. 2, with the playoffs potentially running through the 16th.

The T-Bones joined the American Association in 2011 along with the Goldeyes, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, and Gary SouthShore RailCats. All four clubs previously had played in the Northern League.

Any scenario in which the T-Bones do not play in 2020 would be a major loss for all stakeholders, including fans, the Kansas City community, and the American Association.

The T-Bones are the defending American Association champions, and entered Wednesday just a half game back of the South Division wild card.

Kansas City’s attendance has declined somewhat, but the club still ranked sixth overall in independent baseball in 2018 with an average of 3,958 fans per game. This year, the T-Bones are fourth in the 12-team American Association at 3,486.

T-Bones Stadium is prominently located in what is referred to as “The Legends,” a major shopping and entertainment district just outside of downtown Kansas City. The ball park remains state-of-the-art, and has been a choice destination for top players since opening in 2003.

After the Wichita Wingnuts were forced out of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium following the 2018 season, Kansas City became the American Association’s central travel hub.

If the T-Bones were to cease operations—even temporarily—it would create a 10-hour gap (by bus ride) between the Lincoln Saltdogs and the Texas AirHogs, who would become the next closest team to the south.

First-year American Association commissioner Josh Schaub released a statement as well, and like Ehlert, remains optimistic about retaining one of the industry’s key franchises.

“The league was aware the T-Bones were currently in negotiations with the Unified Government regarding the lease and had not been made aware of any ongoing disputes that would lead to (Monday’s) action,” Schaub said. “The American Association will be working with the T-Bones and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City to resolve this matter and ensure American Association baseball stays in Kansas City for years to come.”

DOGS’ SEASON COULD BE A MOVIE WINNIPEG SUN – WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21st The Winnipeg Goldeyes open a three-game series against the Chicago Dogs tonight at Impact Field.

Dogs outfielder Kelly Dugan went into play Tuesday hitting .331 in 47 games, and is 8-for-20 with four RBI against the Goldeyes in five head-to-head contests.

Dugan missed a month due to injury, and his season batting average would rank fifth in the American Association if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.

“I feel good,” Dugan said. “I had a little bit of a groin strain, and I feel like I’m starting to find a rhythm and groove, and seeing the ball well again. The hitting process takes a while. You just have to keep trying real hard every day to get into your rhythm. You never know when that’s going to come, and in the last week or two, I’ve started to feel good.”

Since returning from the Inactive List, Dugan is batting .395 in 22 games with 18 runs scored. The former Philadelphia Phillies second-round pick is returning to the professional game after missing the 2018 season. Dugan last played in 2017 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ farm system.

Chicago finds itself in the thick of the pennant race, and just 2.0 games behind the St. Paul Saints for the North Division’s second playoff spot.

“This has been a really fun experience for me, and something unexpectedly fun,” Dugan said. “We have a really good lineup. Night in and night out, it’s been a really good experience being a part of this group, and getting back on my feet playing baseball again.

“I told (Chicago manager) Butch (Hobson): ‘You really put together a good one,’ ” added Dugan. “It’s somebody new every night stepping up. Everybody just takes really tough at bats and makes (opposing pitchers) work. We don’t seem to throw away any at bats.”

The second-year franchise has enjoyed a star-studded cast that includes American Association home run leader Keon Barnum and 12-year major- league veteran Carlos Zambrano.

Barnum’s 30 homers are tied for the league’s single-season record with 13 games to spare.

Zambrano enjoyed three top-five finishes in the National League Cy Young balloting during his time with the Chicago Cubs, and starts tonight against the Goldeyes.

“He’s always got great energy,” Dugan said on the 38-year-old Zambrano, who touched 97 miles per hour at Shaw Park last Friday. “He finds a way to get psyched up for games. That’s cool to see, and it’s inspiring to see. You just feel like you’re riding off that energy. If this guy is doing it, then we all should be doing it, right?”

Dugan is no stranger to being surrounded by stars. His father, Dennis, is an accomplished member of the Hollywood film industry, and has directed multiple films starring Adam Sandler, including the 1996 classic Happy Gilmore.

“It was really cool getting to live in Vancouver when they did Happy Gilmore, and I got to go back and stay in Canada when they did Saving Silverman. They shoot (in Canada) all the time, because the scenery is great and the people up there are great to work with.”

Dugan was hanging out on the set of Grown Ups when he learned of his draft selection in 2009. A celebratory photo showing Dugan, his father, and film stars such as Sandler, Kevin James, and Chris Rock made the rounds across social media.

“I’m just really happy for my dad and his success,” said the younger Dugan. “Like any industry, it’s really hard to make it. He worked a long time trying to make movies and learning how to direct, so I’m just happy for him. He wasn’t fortunate enough to have been able to play baseball, but he really wanted me to have that chance. He always supported that career for me, so I support him with his.”

Watching movies to pass the time during bus rides is a staple of the minor league experience. Naturally, there have been multiple occasions where a Dennis Dugan film has played while Kelly and his teammates were traveling to the next city.

“I love watching his movies,” Dugan said. “Most of my dad’s movies aren’t meant to be taken seriously. He’s not trying to get anyone to look inside of his soul. He just wants to make people laugh, so that’s what I love about his movies.”

UP NEXT The Goldeyes open a three-game series against the Chicago Dogs on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Kevin Hilton takes on Zambrano. The game can be heard on 93.7 FM.

LAMBSON NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK WINNIPEG SUN – TUESDAY, AUGUST 20th Winnipeg Goldeyes left-handed pitcher Mitchell Lambson was named the American Association’s Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

Lambson made two starts last week in which he was 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA. On August 12th, Lambson pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout at St. Paul, walking two and striking out nine. It was Lambson’s third complete game of the season, and his sixth in a Goldeyes’ uniform, which is tied for fifth in franchise history. Five days later, the Montclair, California native picked up the win versus Chicago, allowing two earned runs on five hits over seven innings.

“Guys have a lot of confidence when Mitch is on the mound for us,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “He’s had a hell of a year. Hard pressed to think there is a guy in the league having a better season. He’s consistent and gives you a great chance to win.”

Lambson is now 12-2 with a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts. Lambson leads the American Association in wins, ranks third in ERA, first in strikeouts (117), and first in innings pitched (129.2). The 29-year-old Lambson has pitched 6.0 innings or more in 17 of his 18 starts, including 13 outings of at least seven frames. Lambson has also posted six games with nine or more strikeouts, including a season-high 11 on June 26th at Sioux City.

The third-year Goldeye has a chance to become the first pitching triple crown winner (leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts) in the 14-year history of the American Association.

It marks the fourth league-wide award for the Goldeyes this season with Kevin Lachance, Tyler Hill, and Reggie Abercrombie all having been named Batter of the Week.

Lambson was a member of the Goldeyes’ 2017 American Association championship team, and ranked ninth in the league with a 3.81 ERA in 2018. Originally drafted by the Houston Astros in 2011, Lambson has reached the Triple-A level with three different Major League organizations.

LAMBSON NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – MONDAY, AUGUST 19th WINNIPEG, MB – Winnipeg Goldeyes left-handed pitcher Mitchell Lambson has been named the American Association’s Pitcher of the Week for August 12th-18th.

Lambson is in his ninth season of professional baseball, and his third overall with the Goldeyes. The left-hander was a member of the Goldeyes’ 2017 American Association championship team, and ranked ninth in the league with a 3.81 ERA in 2018. Lambson was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round in 2011 out of Arizona State University, and has reached the Triple-A level with three different Major League organizations.

This marks the fourth league-wide award for a Goldeyes’ player this season. Kevin Lachance (May 16th-19th), Tyler Hill (July 22nd-28th), and Reggie Abercrombie (August 5th-11th) have all earned Batter of the Week accolades.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes conclude a two-game series at home tonight against the St. Paul Saints. First pitch at Shaw Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

HILL CRUSHING IT WINNIPEG SUN – SUNDAY, AUGUST 18th Outfielder Tyler Hill has continued his phenomenal 2019 season.

The Kansas City Royals purchased Hill’s contract from the Goldeyes on August 8th, and the 23-year-old is already 10-for-26 (.385) in his first seven games with the High-A Carolina League’s Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Hill batted .375 for the Goldeyes in 40 games while posting a .940 on-base plus slugging.

In his very first at bat for Winnipeg on June 25, Hill belted a home run at Sioux City and then capped his run in a Goldeyes’ uniform with a homer versus Lincoln on August 7. Incredibly, the former Red Sox draft pick launched a three-run shot in his first at bat for Wilmington.

“Very deserving,” Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney said on Hill getting signed. “He’s a young player with a dynamic skill set for our league. He can hit, he’s strong, and he’s got some speed. He’s got the skill set to get to a higher level. He was fantastic for us, played hard every day, and was super productive. He did absolutely everything he could for our club, and certainly earned this opportunity back with an affiliated team.”

The opportunity with the Royals will bring a positive finish to what has been a whirlwind year for the Wilmington native.

After spending the first five years of his career with the Red Sox, Hill was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the minor league phase of last December’s Rule V Draft. Shortly thereafter, Detroit dealt Hill to the New York Yankees. Hill played in 51 games for the Yankees’ High-A Florida State League affiliate in Tampa, Fla. before he was released in mid-June.

With the Royals facing a long-term rebuilding process in the Majors, there may be increased opportunities at the higher levels of the organization over the next few seasons.

TRAVEL COMPLICATIONS The Winnipeg Goldeyes lost 13-0 to the Chicago Dogs in the opener of their series on Thursday night.

However, the rough game may have been inevitable given the circumstances surrounding the team’s travel the night before.

Winnipeg departed the Twin Cities shortly after Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Saints. The St. Paul-Winnipeg jaunt is one of the shortest in the American Association, and can usually be completed in less than seven hours.

Approximately one hour into the trip, though, a mechanical issue forced the team bus to pull over in St. Cloud, Minn.

Since it was already past midnight, finding either a repair shop or a replacement bus was out of the question until the morning, so the club remained in St. Cloud overnight.

The Goldeyes ultimately boarded a new transport and continued on I-94 around 11 a.m. Meanwhile, a local mechanic arrived and resolved what proved to be a simple issue with the original bus.

The team’s arrival for the 7 p.m. first pitch on Thursday was in doubt, and the game was pushed back one hour. Many fans were already in their seats when the Goldeyes finally circled Waterfront Drive and pulled into the Shaw Park parking lot.

With less than an hour before the re-scheduled start, there was minimal time to recover from the bus ride. Most players headed straight for the clubhouse and began changing into their uniforms.

“You hate to say it, but you kind of know what’s going to happen before you go out there,” said Forney. “Not a winnable situation when you’re walking into a gun fight with bare hands. I tip my cap to the guys and give them a lot of credit—nobody complained about it.”

VIDEO: CHICAGO DOGS PLAYERS HELP PARK RIDGE TEEN WITH ‘HOME RUN FOR LIFE’ CHICAGO DAILY HERALD – SUNDAY, AUGUST 11th LINK: https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20190811/video-chicago-dogs-players-help-park-ridge-teen-with-home-run-for-life The Chicago Dogs welcomed 14-year-old Park Ridge native Benny Martinez to Impact Field on Saturday night as part of the team's annual fundraising event with Gold Glove Charities. Benny was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in March 2016 and is now quadriplegic. Benny was one of 28 kids from the Chicagoland area fighting cancer who were honored during the game.

In celebration of Benny, the Chicago Dogs assisted the teen in running the bases during the game in what was called a "Home Run for Life." Chicago Dogs players and fans united in a standing ovation for Benny in what was a truly touching moment.