Fish near flawless in home opener against Canaries

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This article was published 24/05/2018 (2162 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes raised their 2017 American Association championship banner prior to Friday’s home opener against the Sioux Falls Canaries.

It was only a precursor to the fireworks.

With Reggie Abercrombie and David Bergin slugging three-run homers, the hosts banged out a total of 16 hits and starting pitcher Kevin McGovern was superb, allowing four hits and one run over eight innings as the Fish rolled to a 13-1 triumph before before 6,493 fans at Shaw Park.

The Goldeyes, who improved their record to 5-2, looked like a legitimate threat for a championship three-peat. The Canaries, meanwhile, fell to 2-5.

The Fish did much of the damage early, sending 13 batters to the plate during a 56-pitch marathon for Sioux Falls starter Dylan Thompson.

Winnipeg chalked up seven singles and four walks while scoring seven runs.

Maxx Garrett responded with a solo homer in the third for the visitors, but Bergin crushed a big shot to left in the fourth, boosting the Fish into a 10-1 lead.

Abercrombie added his big blow in the fifth and he finished the night 3-for-5 with five RBIs.

Winnipeg catcher Kevin Garcia continued be an unexpected source of offence for the Goldeyes. Entering the game with a team-leading .450 average, Garcia went 3-for-4 with a walk, scored a run and drove another one in. He also improved his average to .500 (12-for-24 in seven games).

Teammate Reynaldo Rodriguez also had a fine night, going 4-for-5 with an RBI while also scoring three runs.

McGovern, 1-1, needed only 96 pitches before turning the ball over to reliever Jack Charleston for a perfect ninth. McGovern also benefited from some outstanding defence behind him.

Thompson, 1-1, lasted 4 2/3 innings and took the loss after being tagged for 13 hits and 13 runs.

NOTEWORTHY: Fish veteran Edwin Carl (1-0, 1.50) will face fellow righty Miles Nordgren (0-0, 0.00) in tonight’s second game of the series (6 p.m.).

For Sunday’s 1 p.m. start in the series finale, Winnipeg’s Shane Dawson (1-0, 2.70) and Canaries’ James Patterson (0-1, 12.60) will face off in a battle of lefties. The Goldeyes then host the Lincoln Saltdogs in a four-game set beginning Monday night.

Winnipeg released infielder Jose Serno on Thursday. In four games, he was 2-for-13 (.154) at the plate. The Fish are expected to add a pitcher to the roster today.

Donnie Smith, one of four Goldeyes to have his number retired by the club, served as Winnipeg’s first base coach Friday in the absence of manager Rick Forney, who was in Maryland to attend his son’s high school graduation.

Forney is expected be back in uniform for Sunday afternoon’s series finale.

Smith, whose No. 21 was retired in 2009, is a teacher at Garden City Collegiate.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14