But Reggie wasn’ t finished. After Wichita scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, Abercrombie had an answer. With two out in the eighth, 2016 league all-star Cabrera singled – his fourth hit of the game – and Abercrombie came up and once again, this time on a 1-1 count, drilled a belt-high fastball over the wall for his second two-run home run in as many innings. With seven RBI, he set a Goldeyes post-season franchise record.
The Goldeyes added a run in the ninth and then closer Winston Abreu
Pitching ace Kevin McGovern had a great start in the final
came on in the ninth and shut down the Wingnuts without so much as a whimper.
McGovern( 1-1, 3.44 ERA), on only three days’ rest, allowed two runs on five hits over six-plus innings of work and got the win. Victor Capellan, Eric Eadington and Abreu came on over the final three innings shut door. Wichita starter Alex Boshers( 2-1, 5.28 ERA) lasted only 3.1 innings and suffered the loss.
Winnipeg outhit Wichita 17-6. A handful of Goldeyes had multi-hit
games: Leadoff man Adam Heisler went four-for-six with a run and an RBI; Cabrera went four-for-five with three runs scored and an RBI; Abercrombie went three-for-four with two runs scored and seven driven in; Grider went three-for-five with three runs scored and Tanabe went twofor-five with a run scored and an RBI. American Association All-Star Game MVP and post-season all-star David Rohm led all Goldeyes batters with a. 436 mark in the post-season. Cabrera finished at. 376 while Grider hit. 308 and Heisler hit. 302.
The last time the Goldeyes won the championship, it was in the same stadium. However, the last time, in 2012, the Goldeyes swept Wichita in three straight games. This time, they had to come back to win it, but this team was 29-21 on the road this season and had no problem pulling off the minor miracle on back-to-back nights.
There is nothing sweeter than winning a championship. For Winnipeg baseball fans, it will be a long, satisfying winter. •
Photography by Jeff and Tara Miller 204-430-5522
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