The Winnipeg Goldeyes began their 30th season — and the Greg Tagert era — in convincing fashion, downing the Gary SouthShore RailCats 6-1 in Indiana on Thursday.
It was a fitting setting for the club to start the 2023 campaign, as new skipper Tagert made his return to the Steel Yard, where he spent 16 seasons managing the RailCats from 2005-2021.
Team ace Luis Ramirez toed the rubber to begin his second season with the Goldeyes and staged an outstanding debut, allowing just two hits from the 22 batters he faced and striking out three across six innings of work.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Goldeyes new manager Greg Tagert.
The bats, meanwhile, wasted no time getting on the board. Four batters after third basemen Dayson Croes singled in the opening at-bat of the season, left fielder Andrew Shaps drove him in on a single to register the first run of the campaign.
The first home run of the season belonged to catcher Hidekel Gonzalez, one of six returnees from last year, who crushed a towering shot over the left-field wall to drive in two runs and swell the Goldeyes’ lead to four runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Croes and Gonzalez made up the bulk of the offence on this night, combining for three hits, four runs batted in and two walks.
The Fish will put their perfect record to the test against the RailCats in the second of a three-game series Saturday. Opening pitch is at 4 p.m.
Joshua Frey-Sam
Reporter
Joshua Frey-Sam happily welcomes a spirited sports debate any day of the week.
