Goldeyes Walk Off Monarchs in Extras

Winnipeg, MB — It was a tough night for the Monarchs as they fell to the Goldeyes in extra innings, 9-8, to finish out a back-and-forth series on Thursday night.

Contrary to yesterday, it was the Goldeyes that jumped in front first. There were three-straight walks, and then Raphael Pelletier lined a two-run double into left field to jump into the lead.

Kansas City immediately answered as Grant Richardson walked and Jose Torres ripped a double into left field to bring in the first KC run.

There were two scoreless innings, and then Kansas City put up a four spot in the top of the fifth. Two pitches into the inning, Onix Vega hit a solo smash to tie the game. Hudson Head got to second, and Tyler Gentry drove in Head on an RBI single to retake the lead. Later in the frame, Tyler Gentry got to third, and JD Davis reached base via error while Gentry scored. Then Sahid Valenzuela followed it up with a base knock to right, and Davis crossed home plate from first. It was a 5-2 lead.

Winnipeg answered in the bottom of the fifth as they quickly loaded the bases against Jeff Hakanson. After three straight walks, Keshawn Lynch lined a single into center field to bring home Adam Hall and Ramon Bramasco. It cut the lead to 5-4.

Wyatt Wendell came on in relief and got the second out of the inning when Raphael Pelletier reached on a fielder’s choice, and Keshawn Lynch was thrown out trying to advance to second. However, the Goldeyes continued to put pressure on the Monarchs.

Max Murphy then singled on a ground ball to the pitcher and advanced to second while Pelletier moved to third. The ball was thrown away, allowing Didder to score and tie the game at 5-5.

Kansas City took advantage of the extra innings rule in the top of the 10th as Grant Richardson started the inning at second base. Jose Torres laid down a bunt single down the third-base line to put runners at the corners with no outs. Austin Callahan then stepped in as a pinch hitter and lifted a sacrifice fly into center field to bring home Richardson and give the Monarchs a 7-6 lead.

Hudson Head followed with a single into right field, and Torres came around to score to extend the lead to 8-6. However, Head was tagged out trying to stretch the play into a double. Tyler Gentry would then strike out looking to end the inning.

Durbin Feltman returned to the mound in the bottom of the 10th to try and close out the game. After a quick out to start the inning, Winnipeg quickly got runners moving as Ray-Patrick Didder advanced to third on the second out. Raphael Pelletier then lined a single into right field to bring home Didder and cut the Monarchs’ lead to 8-7.

Roby Enríquez entered as a pinch runner for Pelletier and advanced to third on a single from Max Murphy. Murphy then stole second, putting runners at second and third. Jiandido Tromp would lift a bloop single into right field that would bring home both Enríquez and Murphy. The two-run hit completed the comeback as Winnipeg walked off with a 9-8 victory.

With the loss, the Goldeyes take the series 3-1 over Kansas City.