June 10: Goldeyes Improve To 17-5 With Sweep Of Gary

Rick Forney’s Goldeyes have already done just about everything their manager could ask of them. And they’re not even a quarter of the way through the season.

With a double-header sweep of Gary on Tuesday, the Fish won their fifth-straight, their seventh-straight at home and improved to 17-5 on the season, the best start after 22 games in franchise history (the 1997 Goldeyes were 16-6 after 22 games).

As well, the Goldeyes remained three games ahead of the 14-8 Schaumburg Flyers in the race for first in the Northern League and with a .773 winning percentage, the Fish are the No. 1 team among the 63 teams in all the eight independent leagues. In fact, Winnipeg is now one of only four teams in those eight leagues with a winning percentage higher than .700.

For Forney, there really isn’t much to say.

“All I do is write out the line-up card and let them do what they do,” he said. “Sure, I’ll change a pitcher or two or send out a pinch-runner, but I don’t have to do too much. I just put them out there and let them play the game.”

And they play the game pretty well. On Tuesday, the Fish beat Gary 4-2 and 6-2 in a pair of seven-inning games.

In game one, Wes Long (.380 batting average and a .576 slugging percentage) had a pair of hits, Josh Asanovich hit a two-run homer, Juan Diaz and Cody Ehlers drove home runs, Ace Walker (3-0) got the win and Matt Davis picked up his league-leading sixth save.

In game two, Long went one-for-two with two walks, a homer and two RBI, Diaz had three hits in three trips, a homer, scored a run and drove one in, Kurt Crowell went two-for-three with a run scored, Dee Brown hit a solo bomb (right after Diaz), Daniel Haigwood (2-0) got the win and Aaron Odom picked up the save.

“Our pitching was really solid in both games,” Forney said. “Daniel (Haigwood) pitched five super innings in game two, Ace (Walker) was steady, with great command of all his pitches in game one and I really thought (Derek) Feldkamp threw the baseball very well. Everybody did a great job.
“Of course, it never hurts to play good defence behind your pitchers and that’s another thing I like about this team. All teams make mistakes, but so far, when we make mistakes, we overcome them. We make a big play and make up for a mental mistake or an error. What can I say? They have been a joy to watch.”

And you can watch them again tonight at Canwest Park at 7:00.