Goldeyes earn walk-off win against Dogs

Ian Sagdal had a walk-off double for the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Wednesday night. Photo: YouTube

July 27, 2022

By Steve Schuster

Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, Man. – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (36-28) beat the Chicago Dogs 5-4 at Shaw Park on Wednesday night.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Goldeyes loaded the bases on an Eric Rivera walk, an Ian Sagdal single and a Max Murphy walk. David Washington ripped a two-out, two-run single to left to give Winnipeg a 2-0 lead.

The Dogs (43-21) cut the lead in half in the top of the second when KC Hobson led off with a home run to right-centre.

With two outs and no one on base in the bottom of the fifth, Raul Navarro drove a triple to right-centre that extended his hitting streak to 17 games. Murphy followed with an RBI single to right that stretched the Goldeyes’ lead to 3-1.

Chicago rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth on RBI singles from Ryan Lidge and Stevie Wilkerson.

Connor Kopach drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, stole second and scored the go-ahead run when Michael Crouse (New Westminster, B.C.) reached on a two-out, infield single.

The Goldeyes re-tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on three straight one-out singles from Sagdal, Navarro and Murphy.

Bryan Blanton escaped a bases loaded, no-out jam in the top of the eighth, while Tasker Strobel pitched a perfect top of the ninth to keep the game tied.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Rivera drew a walk. Sagdal followed with a double to left-centre that scored Rivera from first with the winning run.

Strobel picked up the win in relief, while Paul Schwendel took the loss for the Dogs.

Alex Manasa started for the Goldeyes and took a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on five hits in five-plus innings. Manasa walked one and struck out two.

Shane Barringer started for the Dogs and also took a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on seven hits over five innings. Barringer walked two and struck out two.

Washington has hit safely in nine consecutive games.

The series concludes Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. Luis Ramirez (7-3, 4.07) faces right-hander Kyle Murphy (5-1, 5.21).