SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Winnipeg Goldeyes were down 1-0 last night when they exploded for five runs in the fifth, and they could have just rode that lead to an easy win, but how much fun would that have been?
Instead, the Fish teased the 4,370 fans at Sioux Falls Stadium by allowing the Canaries to tie the game, only to go on and pound them 11-5, thanks to big nights at the plate from Max Poulin, Harry Berrios and Daniel Quartararo.
"Dan had a big day, Maxie and Harry did great too, and our bullpen came in and did a great job for us," said Goldeyes manager Hal Lanier.
Poulin went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored, and Berrios, who was also 3-for-4, had three RBI and scored a run. Quartararo was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
The bats didn't start off so hot. Canaries' starter Julio Medina owned the Fish batters in the first four innings of last night's game, giving up only two scattered singles in the first four frames.
The Goldeyes turned the tables on him in the fifth though, scoring five runs off two doubles, two singles, a walk and a hit batter, in an inning when every Goldeye batter stepped up to the plate.
But a comfortable 5-1 lead quickly turned into an uncomfortable 5-4 lead when the Canaries put up three of their own in the bottom of the inning. They cashed in on two singles, two walks, and a couple of Winnipeg defensive mishaps, including a Poulin throwing error and a botched rundown that ended with Goldeyes' second baseman Ralph Santana diving at the feet of Sioux Falls outfielder Jonny Kaplan as he slid safely into second.
"You just can't make plays like that. You have to make routine defensive plays and rundowns are part of that," said Lanier.
One inning later, the Goldeyes' four-run lead disappeared with a single swing of catcher Kirk Pierce's bat; a swing that sent the ball sailing over the fence in left-centre field for a solo homer and a 5-5 ball game.
But the Fish had another big inning in the seventh, regaining their four-run lead after scoring four off two singles, thanks to a walk, an ill-advised run-scoring fielder's choice and an error. They got another two in the eighth to extend the lead to 11-5. Starter Phil Sobkow (now 3-1) got the win for Winnipeg.
Outfielder Jorge Moreno was hit on the arm by a pitch and was replaced in the eighth inning by Scott Wallis. Lanier does not expect him to play today and will have to wait and see how long he is out.
ON THE HILL: Roger Luque (4-5, 5.23 ERA) will pitch for the Fish in an afternoon game that begins at 2 p.m. in Sioux Falls today. He will face the Canaries' Cory Walters (4-5, 3.29).
COME ON DOWN: The Canaries gave out Bob Barker bobblehead dolls last night, so if you see one on e-Bay you'll know where it came from. The popular host of The Price is Right grew up in South Dakota.
