June 5: Bello Gets First Win, Brown Goes Deep. West Keeps Hitting, Goldeyes Beat Flyers 6-4

Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney has made no bones about the fact he loves Antony Bello’s arm. As it gets more work, it appears as if Bello’s arm is starting to love Forney back.

Friday night at Canwest Park, Bello went five complete innings, throwing 63 pitches while allowing only two runs on four hits as he gained his first Northern League victory, a 6-4 Goldeyes win over the visiting Schaumburg Flyers.

"I’m starting to get it (his arm) stretched out," Bello said afterward. "It was a long bus trip back from Gary. I threw 63 pitches tonight. Hopefully I’ll throw 80 on Wednesday in my next start. Depends how the game goes, but I’m starting to feel really good."

Bello, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder from Miami, last started a game back in November of 2009 in the Florida Winter League. His last previous start was in September of 2008. From September of ’08 until his first start of the year with the Goldeyes back on May 22, Bello had a grand total of three starts.

But when coach Rudy Arias scouted Bello in Miami last winter, he saw a guy who could come in and be a quality starter in the Northern League. Every time out he seems to get better. Friday night he lowered his ERA to 4.97 and improved his record to 1-2.

"I’ve been impressed with the hitters in this league, they’re competitive hitters," he said. "They all swing the bat pretty well but they’re patient as well. They’re really competitive."

The hitting heroes for the Goldeyes last night were Wes Long, Dee Brown, Kevin West and Luis Alen. Long had three hits in four trips and scored two runs; Brown hit a 410-foot solo homer over the centerfield wall in the fifth; West went two-for-four with an RBI and raised his batting average to .353; and Alen had a two-run single in the fourth.

In all, the Goldeyes pounded out 11 hits as they improved to 9-6 on the season.

Game 2 of this three-game series goes Saturday night at 6 at Canwest Park. Dustin Glant will get the start for Schaumburg while Mark Holliman will take to the bump for the Fish. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 982-2273.