GOLDEYES EDGE VIPERS TO CLINCH WILDCARD

The Calgary Vipers got home runs from both Carlos Duncan and Nelson Castro and a solid seven-inning effort from starter Scott Sarver but still wound up dropping a 7-6 decision to the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Friday night. The win clinches a wild card playoff spot for the Goldeyes.

Kenny Chenard (3-3) picked up the victory for Winnipeg after allowing three runs, two earned, and six hits in six complete innings of work. Josh Kite worked the ninth to earn his 12th save of the season.

Sarver (3-5) was saddled with the loss after pitching an effective seven innings. The lefty kept Calgary in it by scattering six hits and allowing just two earned runs in the contest, he also struck out five Winnipeg batters.

The Goldeyes put the first runs of the game up on the board in the top of the first inning. Fehlandt Lentini singled and stole both second and third before Jimmy Hurst made it 2-0 with a homer to left off Sarver.

Calgary cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second when Duncan was brought home on an RBI single by Castro after reaching on a base hit and stealing second. Castro and Duncan combined for five RBI and three runs scored in the game.

Winnipeg went up 4-1 in the third when Lentini scored on a throwing error by Duncan and Amos Ramon came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Hurst. Hurst finished the game with a pair of hits and three RBI.

The Vipers again cut into the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Drew Miller led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Sharnol Adriana before scoring on an RBI groundout by Duncan.

Miller scored for the second time in the game in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 4-3 ball game when he reached on an error by Goldeyes shortstop Max Poulin and came in to score on an RBI single by Darryl Brinkley.

The Goldeyes added three runs in the top of the eighth and appeared to have put the game out of reach. Matt Mann drove a two-run double down the line in left to make it 6-3 and Corey Stang hit an RBI triple to put Winnipeg up by four.

Calgary though, battled back and scored three runs of their own in the eighth inning to once again make it a one-run game. Duncan started things off with a solo homerun to left field off Goldeyes reliever Juan Velazquez. The long-ball was Duncan’s team leading 12th of the season.

Aaron McEachran then reached on an infield single and was on board for Castro’s 6th homer of the season that made it 7-6.

Adriana drew a walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and advanced to second on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position but Kite was able to strike out Duncan to preserve the win and put Winnipeg in the playoffs.

The Vipers (22-24) and Goldeyes (24-22) will now play a pair of afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday to wrap up the Northern League season. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM at Foothills Stadium on both days.