th 28 YEAR 22 WINNING SEASONS 19 PLAYOFF APPEARAN CES 1994 CHAMPIONS 2012 CHAMPIONS 2016 CHAMPIONS 2017 CHAMPIONS WINNIPEG GOLDEYES 2021 GAME INFORMATION GAME: #30 HOME GAME: #13 WINNIPEG GOLDEYES (12-17) vs. CLEBURNE RAILROADERS (15-16) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23rd , 2021 – THE BALLPARK AT JACKSON – 6:35 PM TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHERS: WIN: RHP Pete Perez (1-0, 3.77) CLE: RHP Garrett Alexander (2-4, 6.82) GOLDEYES EDGED BY RAILROADERS IN JACKSON: The Winnipeg Goldeyes lost 7-6 to the Cleburne Railroaders at The Ballpark at Jackson on Tuesday night. Ramon Hernandez’s two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning put the Railroaders ahead 6-5. Cleburne added a run on an RBI groundout in the seventh. The Goldeyes responded in the bottom of the seventh with a Logan Hill RBI groundout, but the Railroaders’ bullpen allowed nothing more the rest of the way. Winnipeg took a 1-0 lead in the first when Tyler Hill tripled and scored on a Max Murphy sacrifice fly. After the Railroaders scored three two-out runs in the top of the second, the Goldeyes plated four of their own in the bottom half. Wes Darvill’s sacrifice attempt resulted in a throwing error that allowed the tying runs to score, while Darren Seferina added a two-run single with the bases loaded. Cleburne pulled within 5-4 in the top of the fourth on a bases loaded walk. Eduard Reyes started for the Goldeyes and took the loss, allowing six earned runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings. Reyes walked four and struck out two. Max Murphy extended his hitting streak to 16 games. ALL-TIME AGAINST THE RAILROADERS: The Winnipeg Goldeyes are 10-10 all-time against the Cleburne Railroaders, including a 2-5 record in home games, and an 0-1 record at The Ballpark at Jackson. The Railroaders are in their fourth season and fifth overall year as a franchise. Cleburne did not participate in the 2020 season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Goldeyes won the inaugural game at The Depot at Cleburne Station on May 18 th , 2017 by a final score of 5-3. The Railroaders were 47-53 in 2017 and 33-66 the following year before undergoing significant changes in ownership and on-field personnel. Former Wichita Wingnuts’ general manager Josh Robertson was named Director of Baseball Operations. Robertson oversaw the construction of Wingnuts’ rosters throughout their entire history from 2008-18. During that span, the Wingnuts posted the highest winning percentage at any level of professional baseball and won the 2014 American Association championship. Cleburne posted its first winning record in 2019 at 57-43, and missed out on the postseason as a result of a tiebreaker. Former Major League pitcher Mike Jeffcoat takes over as manager in 2021. Jeffcoat logged over 500.0 innings across 10 Major League seasons for the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, and Florida Marlins. Jeffcoat previously served as head coach at Texas Wesleyan University from 2002-18. Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers punter Jon Ryan joined the Railroaders’ ownership group leading into the 2021 season. Ryan played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2008-17, helping them win the 2014 Super Bowl. Prior to 2017, the city of Cleburne had not enjoyed professional baseball since 1906 when the original Railroaders won the Texas League championship. Hall of Fame outfielder Tris Speaker, who amassed 3,515 Major League base hits, began his professional career with the 1906 club. SERIES MATCHUP: The Winnipeg Goldeyes are 12-17, tied for fourth place in the American Association North Division, and 6.5 games behind the Milwaukee Milkmen. The Goldeyes just lost two of three to the Kansas City Monarchs at Legends Field. The Goldeyes are third in the American Association in hitting (.276), 10 th in pitching (6.03), and fourth in fielding (.983). The Cleburne Railroaders are 15-16, in tied for fourth place in the South Division, and 5.5 games behind the Sioux City Explorers. The Railroaders just swept a three-game series from the Houston Apollos at The Depot at Cleburne Station. The Railroaders are fourth in the league in batting (.274), tied for sixth in pitching (4.58), and 10 th in defence (.975). This is the last of two head-to-head series between Winnipeg and Cleburne this season. The Goldeyes were 3-3 against the Railroaders in 2019. TONIGHT’S STARTERS: The Goldeyes go with right- PROJECTED UPCOMING PITCHING MATCHUPS hander Pete Perez who is 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA in one start 6/24 vs. CLE: RHP Joey Gonzalez (2-2, 7.24) vs. LHP Michael Gunn (2-2, 3.38) four relief appearances this season. Perez picked up the 6/25 vs. HOU: TBA vs. TBA win at Cleburne last Thursday, allowing three earned runs 6/26 vs. HOU-1: TBA vs. TBA on six hits in 5.0 innings. Perez walked two and struck out 6/26 vs. HOU-2: TBA vs. TBA two. The 5.0 innings were a career-high, and it was Perez’s first start since 2018. Prior to this season, Perez last pitched in 2019 for the Texas AirHogs where he was 2-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 23 relief appearances. Perez walked 10 and struck out 30 over 32.1 innings pitched. Perez was undrafted out of Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas) following his senior season in 2013 and signed with the Frontier League’s Southern Illinois Miners. After posting a 3.03 ERA in 38.2 innings for the Miners, Perez had his contract purchased by the Atlanta Braves. Perez is in his seventh season of professional baseball, and is 12-17 lifetime with 21 saves and a 3.84 ERA in 190 appearances, six of them as a starting pitcher. Perez has averaged 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings during his career. Perez is 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in one start and three relief appearances in his career against the Railroaders. Perez is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two career relief appearances at The Ballpark at Jackson. The Railroaders go with right-hander Garrett Alexander who is 2-4 with a 6.82 ERA in five starts and four relief appearances this season. Alexander took the loss vs. Winnipeg last Thursday, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits in 6.0 innings. Alexander walked two, struck out eight, and was pitching on three days of rest. Alexander is 1-3 with a 7.01 ERA as a starting pitcher this season. Alexander was a true rookie for the Railroaders in 2019, making five relief appearances. Alexander walked four and struck out eight over 7.0 innings. Alexander pitched at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Kingsville, Texas) from 2018-19, and posted a 2.80 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 35.1 innings as a senior in 2019. Alexander also pitched two seasons at Blinn College (Brenham, Texas) from 2015-17. Alexander is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in one career start against Winnipeg. Tonight will be Alexander’s first career appearance at The Ballpark at Jackson. TENNESSEE BOUND: Due to the ongoing closure of the Canada/US border, the Winnipeg Goldeyes have partnered with the Jackson Generals professional baseball club to host Winnipeg at The Ballpark at Jackson to begin the 2021 season. The Generals were a Double-A Southern League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and Arizona Diamondbacks from 1998-2019. The franchise hosted the Southern League All-Star Game on two occasions, and won four Southern League championships. The Generals are located in Jackson, Tennessee, which is 208 kilometres southwest of Nashville and 140 kilometres northeast of Memphis. COSTELLO REACQUIRED: The Goldeyes claimed catcher Zack Costello off waivers from the Kane County Cougars on Saturday. Costello appeared in 12 games for the Goldeyes earlier this season before he was released on June 7 th . MAD MAX: Goldeyes’ outfielder Max Murphy set a career-high with five base hits on June 16 th at Cleburne. Murphy had collected four hits in one game on seven previous occasions. The Goldeyes’ record for hits in a single game is six, accomplished by Chad Thornhill (July 27, 1999 at Madison) and Andrew Sohn (July 15, 2017 vs. Kansas City). TRIPLE THREAT: Goldeyes’ infielder Kevin Lachance tied a franchise single-game record with two triples on June 16 th at Cleburne. The record was last accomplished by Josh Romanski on July 2 nd , 2016 vs. Sioux Falls. DOUBLE DOWN: Following postponements last Tuesday and Wednesday, the Winnipeg Goldeyes now have 10 double headers that have either been played or remain on their 2021 schedule. The 10 double headers would set a franchise record. The Goldeyes played nine double headers during the 2009 season. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season ranks next with seven double headers. EYES ON THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION: Since the start of training camp on May 6 th , the American Association has sold the contracts of 42 players to Major League organizations. The Goldeyes have had four players picked up since then, including RHP Ryan Dull (Seattle Mariners), RHP Josh Lucas (Arizona Diamondbacks), IF Alexis Pantoja (Arizona Diamondbacks), and RHP Cory Thompson (St. Louis Cardinals). AMERICAN ASSOCIATION BACK TO FULL STRENGTH: The American Association returns to 12 teams and a 100-game schedule in 2021. The league is split into two divisions, with the top two regular season winning percentages from each division qualifying for the postseason. ROSTER RULES RETURN, ADJUSTED: After waiving all classification restrictions in 2020, the American Association returns to its traditional roster rules in 2021.