WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS - SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd, 2019

WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS
                                                  SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd, 2019
     -    Fish Defeat Milkmen 4-3 in Memorable First Game—Winnipeg Free Press (Taylor Allen), 6/22/19
     -    Goldeyes Outlast Milkmen, Rain in 4-3 Win—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 6/22/19
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     -    June 21 Game Highlights (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Jason Young), 6/21/19
     -    Walks Help Goldeyes’ Offence—Winnipeg Sun, 6/22/19
     -    Zeller Back in Winnipeg—Winnipeg Sun, 6/21/19
     -    Exchanging Words: Mitch Lambson (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Nigel Batchelor), 6/20/19
     -    Goldeyes Pitcher Lambson Adjusts to Starter’s Routine—Winnipeg Sun, 6/20/19
     -    Goldeyes’ Field is ‘Sodfather’ Fergie’s Canvas, Mower His Paintbrush—Winnipeg Free Press (Devon Shewchuk), 6/19/19

FISH DEFEAT MILKMEN 4-3 IN MEMORABLE FIRST GAME
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TAYLOR ALLEN – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – SATURDAY, JUNE 22
For a lack of a better word, Friday night at Shaw Park was an absolute gong show.

Or I guess you could say, Saturday morning.

The Fish welcomed the Milwaukee Milkmen, an American Association expansion team, to town for the very first time as they opened up a four-game
series.

And the first meeting between these two teams in Winnipeg was a memorable one, although the game was spoiled for the Milkmen as they lost 4-3 due
to a questionable call by the umps. The game took nearly five hours to complete, as the last out was recorded a couple minutes past midnight.

So what made this game so crazy?

There was a nearly two-hour rain delay after the top of the fifth inning. There was a botched call in the seventh inning that ultimately cost the Milkmen
the game. And there was a potential scare in the eighth inning as veteran Goldeyes outfielder Reggie Abercrombie went down after chasing a fly ball on
presumably a slippery field, although he ended up somehow staying in the game and drove in a game-tying run in the eighth inning despite looking
incredibly uncomfortable.

The Fish led 2-0 after the top of five, thanks to a stellar start from Winnipegger Ryan Johnson. The hometown product held the Milkmen off the
scoreboard during his five and one-third innings of work and struck out three batters in a no decision. Then, the rain started to pour and the game was
delayed for an hour and 45 minutes. With five innings in the books and no sign of the rain stopping, the Goldeyes were close to being awarded the win
as the league rule is for games to count as long as they go a minimum of five innings. But to the delight of the Milkmen (at the time), they waited things
out and resumed play as the rain finally stopped.

Fast forward to the top of the seventh inning where the Milkmen loaded the bases for outfielder Taisei Fukuhara while still trailing 2-0. Fukuhara drilled
the ball to left field and hit the bottom of the foul pole, which should have counted as a grand slam. But the umpires somehow missed it, and Fukuhara
had to settle for a three-run triple to give Milwaukee a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately for the Milkmen, the missed call ultimately cost them the game as the
Goldeyes answered back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take advantage of the mistake.

Abercrombie tied the game at 3-3 on an infield single, and then first baseman Kyle Martin hit a sacrifice fly to plate James Harris for the winning run.
Victor Capellan came on in the ninth inning and finished things off to collect his 10th save of the season for the Fish. Goldeyes reliever Marcus
Crescentini reeled in the win to improve to 4-0 on the year. Krystien Johnson-Battilana (1-2) gave up the two runs in the eighth inning to be tagged with
the loss for the Milkmen. With the victory, the Goldeyes improved to 19-12. The Milkmen dropped to 14-18.

There’s no time to rest for the Goldeyes and Milkmen, as they’ll return to Shaw Park tonight to play a double header. The first of two seven-inning games
starts at 5 p.m.

GOLDEYES OUTLAST MILKMEN, RAIN IN 4-3 WIN
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STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – FRIDAY, JUNE 21
WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (19-12) beat the Milwaukee Milkmen 4-3 at Shaw Park on Friday night.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Dominic Ficociello tripled down the right field line with one out. After the Milkmen elected to intentionally
walk James Harris, left-hander Michael Scimanico relieved right-hander Krystien Johnson-Battilana. Reggie Abercrombie hit a high chopper in front of
the plate that allowed Ficociello to race home with the tying run. Wes Darvill drew a full-count walk to load the bases, and the Goldeyes took a 4-3 lead
when Harris scored on a Kyle Martin sacrifice fly.
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Victor Capellan pitched a perfect top of the ninth to earn his 10 save of the year.

Marcus Crescentini (4-0) earned the win in relief. Johnson-Battilana (1-2) took the loss for Milwaukee.

Winnipeg took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Josh Romanski singled to right leading off. Two batters later, Ficociello walked, and was followed
by a line drive single to right from Harris that scored Romanski. Ficociello and Harris each took an extra base on the throw to the plate, and Ficociello
then scored on an Abercrombie ground out to third.

The teams endured a one-hour and 41-minute rain delay heading into the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Milwaukee took a 3-2 lead on a two-out, three-run triple from Taisei Fukuhara that struck the wall down the left field line.

Ryan Johnson started for the Goldeyes and took a no-decision, pitching five and one-third shutout innings. Johnson walked two and struck out three.

Tyler Garkow relieved Johnson with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth and escaped the jam with an inning-ending double play ball.

Angel Ventura started for the Milkmen and also took a no-decision, allowing two earned runs on six hits in six innings. Ventura walked two and struck
out four.

The Goldeyes and Milkmen continue their series on Saturday with a double header beginning at 5:05 p.m. Both games are scheduled for seven
innings. Kevin McGovern (3-3, 5.12) faces Zac Westcott (1-3, 6.14) in game one, while Harrison Cooney (2-2, 5.95) pitches for Winnipeg in game
two. Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’
official website at www.goldeyes.com

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VIDEO: JUNE 21 GAME HIGHLIGHTS
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JASON YOUNG – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – FRIDAY, JUNE 21
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo-FidCVBMM

WALKS HELP GOLDEYES’ OFFENCE
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WINNIPEG SUN – SATURDAY, JUNE 22
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are hoping their offensive outburst against the Chicago Dogs earlier this week is a sign of things to come.

Winnipeg scored a season series-high 28 runs in the three games against Chicago.

In the opener on Tuesday, Goldeyes hitters forced the Dogs to throw 182 pitches over eight innings. The Fish managed to eclipse that mark on
Thursday, seeing 190 pitches.

“We’re drawing walks, and we’re doing a little bit of a better job not rushing through at-bats,” said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney.

“The walk has been a part of our offence since the season started. We’re doing a pretty good job of that. We’re starting to get a few hits in behind (the
walks), and taking advantage of some teams that are making mistakes.”

Following their 15-1 victory on Thursday, the Goldeyes moved up to sixth in the American Association in team batting average.

The club’s 130 free passes are tied for third in the league.

“Guys are starting to feel better about themselves in the box,” Forney said. “The first three or four weeks of the season, it’s not that we weren’t getting
pitches to hit. We just weren’t capitalizing on mistakes. Right now, guys are doing a better job of being more zone-selective and putting better swings on
the ball, and they’re getting rewarded for it.”

The Goldeyes tied a season-high with three home runs on Thursday, including a grand slam home run from Willy Garcia. The former major leaguer was
riding a 10-game hitting streak going into Friday’s game against Milwaukee.

Forney also lauded his team’s base-running. Winnipeg stole four bases in the series, and had a runner go first-to-third on a single four different times in
the finale.

Having struck out just 180 times all season, the Goldeyes are putting the ball in play at a better rate than any team in the league. Winnipeg’s relatively
low .296 average on balls in play is another indicator that a positive uptick is on the horizon.

“I’m hoping so,” Forney said. “We saw some good arms, and we did some good things. Our guys have hit before in their careers, and I would expect
them to hit this year as well, so hopefully the three games we had in that Chicago series can carry over into this one.”

Forney still cautioned against a quality Milwaukee pitching staff that includes two starters in Angel Ventura and TJ House, who rank in top 10 in the
American Association in ERA.

“They have good pitching,” Forney said about Milwaukee’s staff. “They have a couple of starters that are really good. They have a couple of good
weapons in the bullpen too. If they get a one- or two-run lead on you, they can be tough to beat.”

ZELLER BACK IN WINNIPEG
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WINNIPEG SUN – FRIDAY, JUNE 21
An original Goldeye returns to Winnipeg this weekend.

Bart Zeller, pitching coach of the expansion Milwaukee Milkmen, played for the Northern League’s Winnipeg Goldeyes from 1963-64 when The Fish
were still a farm club for the St. Louis Cardinals.

A catcher during his playing days, Zeller reached the major leagues with St. Louis in 1970, and totaled 552 games over his eight-year career.

“Winnipeg holds a very special place in my heart,” Zeller said. “Some of my best experiences in minor league baseball were in Winnipeg. The people
backed their team. They were fantastic, and welcomed us into their country. I’ve never had the chance to thank them for that, but I would like to do that
now.”

Zeller’s professional career began in 1963 with the class-A Georgia-Florida League’s Brunswick Cardinals. After hitting .304 in eight games, the Chicago
Heights, Ill., native learned he was being promoted north of the border.

“I flew up to Winnipeg,” Zeller recalled. “We had a doubleheader. I landed, and I lied down to take a nap. I was a half hour late getting to the game. Fred
Koenig was my manager, and he said: ‘Are you the kid from Brunswick, Georgia?’ I said: ‘Yes, sir.’

Zeller concluded, “He said: ‘When you come back tomorrow, I want a $50 bill, and I want an alarm clock.’ He wasn’t interested in why I was late, and
convinced me right then and there that in baseball, you’re never late. It was a good lesson to learn.”

LIFE WITH LEFTY
During his second season playing for the Goldeyes, Zeller was able to catch Hall of Fame left-hander Steve Carlton as a rookie professional.

Carlton was 4-4 with a 3.36 ERA for the Goldeyes in 12 starts, and struck out 79 batters in 75.0 innings. ‘Lefty,’ as he was known during his legendary
major league career, won four Cy Young Awards, earned 329 victories, and still ranks fourth in career MLB strikeouts.

“There is something about certain individuals that you just know they have it,” said Zeller on Carlton. “When Steve Carlton got on the mound and started
throwing, as a catcher, you just said: ‘Wow, this guy is electric. This guy’s got something that you don’t see very often.’ All I ever thought about with
catching him was, my goodness, how could I hit that ball?”

HOME SOON
Since beginning the season 3-8, the expansion Milkmen have won 11 of their last 19 and climbed out of last place in the American Association North
Division.

Milwaukee was dealt a wild card before the season began when they learned Routine Field, the club’s eventual state-of-the-art home, would not be
ready until June 24. The team played its first 14 home games at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Indiana, and was an admirable 7-7.

“I’m really proud of the ball club so far,” said Zeller. “When you disrupt your normal routine, it puts a lot of pressure on the ball players. We really didn’t
have a home. Kokomo was wonderful. It was a tremendous facility, but we’ve been living out of a suitcase, and living out of hotels (all season).
Ownership has done everything they can to make us comfortable, but there’s something special about being able to go home, spend the night, and say:
‘We’re back home where we should be.’”

Before finally moving into his new home on Monday, Zeller gets to revisit one of his first homes in professional baseball.

“I’m looking forward to returning (to Winnipeg),” said Zeller. “It will be fun and exciting. Hopefully some of the people who watched us play are still out
there watching games.”

VIDEO: EXCHANGING WORDS: MITCH LAMBSON
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NIGEL BATCHELOR – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – THURSDAY, JUNE 20
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKvHgVbnpHs

GOLDEYES PITCHER LAMBSON ADJUSTS TO STARTER’S ROUTINE
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WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, JUNE 20
Left-hander Mitchell Lambson takes the mound tonight in the Goldeyes’ series-finale against the Chicago Dogs.

The 28-year-old is 3-1 in six starts, and ranks just outside the American Association’s top-10 with a 3.07 ERA.

Lambson is coming off a complete game, six-hit shutout at Gary SouthShore last Thursday. The nine-inning effort helped the Goldeyes win the rubber
match of their three-game series with the RailCats.

In nine professional seasons, Lambson owns a 3.41 ERA, but has been starting regularly only since 2018.

“I loved pitching out of the bullpen,” said Lambson. “Getting the chance to start the last two years has been a different experience. Anytime there’s a new
challenge in this game, it’s fun to take it on. I absolutely love starting.”

Lambson, who has played for three different triple-A clubs in his career, finished ninth in ERA in the American Association a year ago. However, the
native Californian’s durability was perhaps even more impressive than his performance, especially when you consider that he had made only one career
start prior to 2018.

The Arizona State alumnus has pitched at least six innings in 17 of his 23 starts in a Goldeyes uniform over the past two seasons, including four nine-
inning complete games.

Interestingly, Lambson found that stretching his arm out for longer outings wasn’t as challenging as the restructuring of his daily and weekly routines.
The left-hander observed a noticeable difference between the spontaneity of having his number called at any time in the bullpen versus the more rigid
nature of working out of the rotation.

“In the bullpen, it’s just: ‘Hey, you’re in the game,’ and all of a sudden, the adrenaline starts going, and you’re in,” Lambson said. “But as a starter, you
know when you’re pitching, so learning to manage that was a little bit of a challenge at first.

“Getting used to the (extended) pitch count wasn’t too bad, because in the bullpen guys are throwing all the time day after day,” added Lambson.
“Learning how to pitch deep into games wasn’t as hard, but dealing with the routine was a little different.”

Starting pitchers usually throw at least one bullpen or ‘side session’ during the four days off between starts. Side sessions are thrown off a mound at
something close to game-level intensity, and serve as an opportunity to make adjustments based on the results of the previous appearance.

Relievers work on the side as well, but have to strike a balance between honing their craft and saving their stamina for a potential game performance
later that night.

“That’s definitely helped a lot with my breaking ball,” Lambson said regarding his side sessions. “In the bullpen, you don’t get a chance to develop your
third or fourth pitch as much. As a starter, you have to, because you can’t just be a two-pitch pitcher facing the lineup multiple times through.”

A key contributor on the Goldeyes’ 2017 American Association championship team, Lambson is looking forward to helping Winnipeg try to return to the
postseason, and is impressed with the calibre of talent the league has maintained since he first arrived.

“All three years that I’ve been here, the talent in this league has been top-notch,” said Lambson. “It’s double-A, triple-A ball in my opinion. There are
guys on every team with big-league time, and tons of guys with triple-A time. We’ve got a lot of guys (on the Goldeyes) with triple-A time. It’s really good
baseball. It’s kind of a hidden gem a little bit. You don’t know about it until you’re here. Then you see it, and you’re like: ‘Wow, this is really good
baseball.’ ”

GOLDEYES’ FIELD IS ‘SODFATHER’ FERGIE’S CANVAS, MOWER HIS PAINTBRUSH
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DEVON SHEWCHUK – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
The beautifully manicured field at Shaw Park has always hit a home run with the fans.

Baseball Digest has, consistently, ranked it as one of independent ball's top-five nicest ballparks. But with two acres of field to take care of, maintaining
the diamond is a big job. Fortunately, Donald (Fergie) Ferguson is the "Sodfather" behind it all.

"I was always a golf course guy, so I knew my grass," Ferguson says.

The 67-year-old has been the head groundskeeper for the Goldeyes since Shaw Park (formerly CanWest Global Park) opened in 1999. Ferguson has
seen a lot of crazy things over the years, but said it's hard to top the ballpark's opening night.

"Our very first ball game, we're laying sod as the team is coming on the field to play the game," he says.

"We had to lay these little pieces of sod down and they made a ‘no bunting’ rule — it was really quite interesting for that one. The sod was legitimately
thrown down minutes before the game."

Since then Ferguson has developed a routine, one that he's stuck to for the past 21 years. His morning begins with a weather check, then he makes his
way to the field, grabs his list of repairs to complete and then waits for the dew to dry off the grass. After that comes his favourite part of the day.

"I enjoy cutting grass, it’s my quiet time, as I call it. Nobody can drive me crazy when I’m out here cutting grass. Most of the time I won’t even get off the
lawnmower if my phone rings, I just have to finish the grass and get it done," he says.

Ferguson cuts the grass once every two days when the team is the road, but daily during home games to keep the field in top playing shape. After each
game-day cut, he creates a design using the rollers on his lawnmower.

"Everybody likes to see some kind of design. I like stripes, circles, checkers, diamonds. Sometimes I cut different angles across the field. Once in a while
I watch TV and see something new and I want to try it on ours. You just got to try and fit it in here," he says.

"Takes a little bit of planning in your mind to get this thing drawn out in your head, but other than that it works out pretty good."

Depending on the design, Ferguson spends between an hour-and-a-half to more than three on the mower before each home game. Shaw Park visitors
can expect to see a new design from him every three days, unless he feels the need to change the team's luck.

"Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t — depends what happens. I’m very superstitious. So if we’re winning I keep it going, if we don’t I gotta change it," he
says.

Goldeyes' longtime bullpen catcher Danny Perron says it's Ferguson's heart and dedication that makes him such an important member of the squad.

"He’s the heart, the bloodline of this organization. He makes everything go smooth. Everything you don’t see that runs perfectly well, that’s because
Fergie is a part of it."

Although Ferguson has Shaw Park's field maintenance down to a science by now, there are things that are out of his control.

"This season has been terrible for rain," he says. "Last year wasn’t bad at all, this year we’re making up for it. It makes it a little more interesting, but also
a little more difficult."

The Fish have been rained out three times thus far this year, twice on home turf. Whenever there's a threat of rain, Goldeyes staff have to team up, drop
everything and roll out a massive tarp to protect the diamond. Goldeyes general manager Andrew Collier is always part of the "tarp party," as he calls it,
but says it's the only field-related thing he's had to think of since Ferguson joined the organization in '99.

"I know the grass is going to be in good shape and I know he's going to be here doing his thing, it just makes my life easier because it's one less thing
for me to worry about," says Collier. "Especially when there's rain or a threat of rain, we work very well together."

One of Ferguson's fondest memories is preparing intricate field designs in all three all-star games Shaw Park has hosted. It took hours on the mower,
but he says it's just all in a day's work.

"I have to make the game happen, that’s all I know. That’s my main concern, I gotta get the game going. I don’t want no excuse that I had anything to do
with slowing down the game, the game has to go," he says.

With the season only a quarter of the way through, fans still have plenty of time catch a game and see Ferguson's latest design.

And if you see him at the ballpark, just call him Fergie.