Fish ‘punch back’ to crush Canaries

The number sticks out like a sore thumb: 41.

That’s how many wins the Winnipeg Goldeyes recorded during the 2025 season, tying an all-time low for the storied, 32-year-old franchise.

What a difference a year can make. Let the record show the Fish have already matched that total — with 26 games left to play in the 2026 campaign.

And they are showing no signs of slowing down.

Just ask the Sioux Falls Canaries, who must have thought they were in cruise control Tuesday as they carried a comfortable 6-2 lead into the seventh inning at Blue Cross Park. Winnipeg had mustered one measly hit to that point and looked destined to go quietly into the night.

The final score? Winnipeg 10, Sioux Falls 6.

A four-run seventh was followed by another four-run outburst in the eighth as the bats suddenly came alive, propelling the Goldeyes to their 14th victory in their past 16 outings.

“That’s how we play. If we get punched in the mouth, we punch back,” said catcher Raphael Pelletier, who delivered the biggest hit of the game — a bases loaded, ground-rule double which broke the tie. Two more runs would come into score on a fielding error later in the frame to put this one to bed.

Did Pelletier feel a bit of extra fire in his belly when the Canaries intentionally walked Keshawn Lynch in order to face him?

“I didn’t take it personally, but I was ready for the moment,” said the Quebec product, who is having a terrific rookie season with the Goldeyes.

“I hit it pretty good.”

He sure did. Winnipeg improves to 41-33 and is now within half a game of first place Kansas City in the West Division. Sioux Falls — which occupies the fourth and final playoff spot — falls to 39-36.

“We have depth up and down the lineup and with us, it’s very contagious,” said Canadian outfielder Adam Hall, who had two doubles, a single, a stolen base, an RBI and three runs scored in the game.

Hall chalked it up to a case of muscle memory. The Goldeyes are fresh off a franchise-record 13-game winning streak which saw plenty of spirited comebacks. But they had dropped the past two outings, both in Lincoln, and returned home determined not to undo all their good work of late.

“We’d like to get it going a little bit earlier (in the game), but as long as you can score eight runs in two innings, I don’t think you can complain too much,” said Hall, who leads the team with a .332 batting average.

Noah Marcelo drove in his team-leading 67th run of the season, while Lynch, Jiandido Tromp and Kevin Garcia also had RBIs. It was yet another example of how Winnipeg can punish opponents up and down its lineup.

Starter Kevin Vaupel didn’t have his best stuff on the night, serving up a three-run home run in the third inning and a two-run shot in the sixth which had his team in a sizeable hole. But the offence — as it has done for much of the season — bailed out the pitching.

James Colyer came out of the bullpen to give up a run in the seventh, while fellow relievers Willian Suarez (who got the win) and Derrick Cherry each threw a scoreless frame.

Speaking of the men on the mound, there’s good news on that front coming Winnipeg’s way.

Veteran hurler Landen Bourassa, who left the organization earlier this season for a professional opportunity in Mexico, is on his way back. The Canadian righty, who is one of the best pitchers in the American Association, is expected to be get the ball tonight as this three-game series with Sioux Falls continues.

“Other teams aren’t going to like that,” said Pelletier. “To add him to our lineup is really good for us.”

Bourassa made four starts with the Goldeyes to start this season, going 0-3 with a 4.18 earned-run-average. He has a 34-27 record over six seasons in Winnipeg and will be a welcome addition to a shorthanded staff that has required numerous starts from relievers, including Tuesday’s by Vaupel.

“Having a starter that can shut down the game for seven innings is huge,” said Hall. “We’ve had a couple guys step up and take on a bigger role. But that’s going to be huge for us.”

Bourassa wasn’t able to duplicate his success in Mexico. He pitched for two different teams this summer (Puebla and Chihuahua), going 1-2 and giving up 23 earned runs in 26 1/3 innings. No doubt he’ll be eager to get back on track with an organization he’s come to know and love.

A crowd of 3,596 took in Tuesday’s game. That included Stanley Cup champion Seth Jarvis, who was greeted with a loud ovation when he was introduced and took part in a between-innings fan contest.

After wrapping up the series against Sioux Falls on Thursday evening, Winnipeg will welcome another division rival — fifth-place Sioux City — for three games running Friday through Sunday.

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