August 9: Lack Of Timely Hits Costs Goldeyes In 7-3 Loss

It was just one of those nights. Try as they might, the Winnipeg Goldeyes could barely muster any offence at all.

Combine that with a shaky start for the fourth consecutive game and the Goldeyes lost their second straight to the Schaumburg Flyers, falling 7-3 at Canwest Park on Saturday night.

Big Juan Diaz went 0-for-3, clean-up hitter Kevin West went 0-for-3 and not one Winnipeg hitter had a multi-hit game. Meanwhile, starter Andrew Cruse allowed six runs on six hits and four walks in less than six innings.

“For the fourth straight game, we got a lousy start from our starter,” said a disappointed Rick Forney. “We played sloppy defensively and we didn’t get any timely hits and that cost us.”

With the loss, Winnipeg fell to 45-28 on the season. But because Gary lost 10-7 to Kansas City, the Goldeyes remained a-game-and-a-half ahead of the RailCats in the race for first in the Northern League. The Goldeyes magic number to clinch a playoff berth remains at 10.

“I guess what’s worrying me is that we haven’t made any pitches for four straight days from our starters,” said Forney. “The more consistent you can be in the strike zone, the better you’ll be.

“We’re hoping Bill (Pulsipher) will pound the strike zone (on Sunday) for six innings or so – six is probably all he can give us at this stage (it’s his second start since being off for almost two months) – and we can score some runs for him,” Forney added. “We also made some mistakes today and we didn’t get any timely hits, even though we had plenty of chances, and all that has to improve. We have to find a way to get him a big hit.”

It will be Pulsipher, the former big leaguer, getting the start for the Goldeyes on Sunday afternoon while Alain Quijano takes the ball for Schaumburg. It’s a 1:30 start at Canwest Park.