Goldeyes’ struggles continue as club drops pair to visiting Monarchs

It’s been a tough go as of late for the Winnipeg Goldeyes, who have dropped their last three series and didn’t get the start they wanted entering a weekend series against the Kansas City Monarchs, dropping back-to-back games in a doubleheader Friday night at Blue Cross Park.

“We just need to win,” said Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins. “I mean, we’re running out of time to get rolling. We’re in the second half of the season now. We battled back to get to .500 and then just had a couple tough series, and now we’re kind of back in a hole again. We just got to keep trying to climb out of it.”

The first game of the doubleheader was a continuation of a rained-out game on June 8 against the Monarchs, in which the Goldeyes were trailing 2-1 at the bottom of the third.

The Monarchs picked up right where they left off a month later, with runs by Jaylyn Williams, Josh Bissonette and Ryan Leitch at the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 5-1.

The Fish got things going in the fifth, with Keshawn Lynch scoring a triple before being brought in by a Max Murphy home run blast over left field to make it 5-3.

Both teams stayed off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, as the Monarchs held on for the win. Moving on to game two, a seven-inning affair, the Monarchs were the first to break the no-scoring period, with a run by Blake Rutherford at the top of the second to open a 1-0 lead.

The Goldeyes were not able to say the same, failing to score any runs in game two.

“We battled everything we could,” said Goldeyes starting pitcher Mitchell Lambson. “Their pitcher threw really well against us, and they’re a great team, Kansas City. So when we’re going up against them, any little mistakes or anything they get an edge on, really can come back to get us.”

Pitching-wise, the Goldeyes looked strong with southpaw Lambson allowing just the one run, five hits and striking out two in the seven innings pitched — his fourth complete game of the season.

“I think just keeping up with my routine and my process every day, doing arm care and trying to keep my arm healthy and trusting coach (Mark Brewer) helping me in bullpens in between starts has helped a lot,” said Lambson on how he’s kept his game strong.

The Goldeyes’ offence stayed cold as Monarchs starter, left-handed pitcher Josh Hendrickson, made an even stronger showing than Lambson, allowing no runs and only four hits, striking out 10 in six innings pitched.

“I thought Mitch Lambson pitched great,” said Watkins. “Another day where, or another game, I guess, where he throws great and we don’t score any runs… For whatever reason we can’t hit and pitch on the same day.”

The Goldeyes continue their homestand today against the Monarchs. Game time is 6 p.m.

“We need to start winning some games,” said Lambson. “So just focus in on the process every day, not worried about the outcome, but just keep the process going and trust it and I think we’ll be alright.”

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca