Adam Hall played a vital role at the plate as the Winnipeg Goldeyes struck late to down the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 7-4 in a roller-coaster American Association encounter.
On a night of constant lead changes at Blue Cross Park, a three-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth inning ensured the home side walked away with a hard-fought victory.
Hall enjoyed a productive night in the right field slot, going 2-for-4 from the plate, scoring a run, and driving home the insurance run that ultimately slammed the door on any hopes of a RedHawks comeback.
Fargo-Moorhead (17-20) opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when second baseman Colby Wilkerson tagged and came home on shortstop Aidan Byrne’s sacrifice fly to right field.
The Goldeyes responded immediately in the bottom of the frame. Left fielder Jiandido Tromp leveled the score, launching a ferocious double off the wall in left field to drive home the speeding Hall from first base. Winnipeg then edged ahead 2-1 in the third when Noah Marcelo’s double-play ball allowed second baseman Kevin García to cross the plate.
The advantage didn't last long, as the RedHawks roared back in the fourth. Catcher Juan Fernández laced a single to right to plate Wilkerson, before left fielder Andy Nelson came around on Dillon Thomas’ double to right-centre, pulling the visitors ahead 3-2.
Showing excellent resilience, Goldeyes catcher Raphaël Pelletier leveled the score once more at 3-3 in the bottom half, mapping a double to right-centre to score Max Murphy. An inning later, Marcelo lined a single to shallow centre to score Ray-Patrick Didder and reclaim a 4-3 lead for Winnipeg.
The narrow lead held until the top of the eighth when Nelson capitalized on a two-out throwing error to level the game at 4-4, setting the stage for a dramatic home half.
Winnipeg’s dugout erupted in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Mason Pelio (L, 0-3). Pinch-runner Keshawn Lynch manufactured the go-ahead run, sliding home safely as Didder grounded out to shortstop.
Third baseman Ramón Bramasco then delivered the blow of the night, smashing a clutch triple to right field to plate Pelletier. With the stadium on its feet, Hall stepped up to put the icing on the cake, lining a clean single to centre field to drive in Bramasco for the game’s final run.
Willian Suárez (W, 1-0) earned the win in relief of starter Tasker Strobel, who threw a solid 5 2/3 innings, striking out six while conceding three runs. RedHawks starter Patrick Wicklander took a no-decision after giving up four runs on seven hits over four-plus frames.
|
