Winnipeg Goldeyes defeat RedHawks to strike first in division championship – Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Goldeyes are just one win away from a spot in the championship series.

Just 48 hours after winning their first playoff series in seven years, the Goldeyes won Game 1 of the West Division Championship. The Fish crushed the old rival Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 10-1 on Monday night in North Dakota.

The Goldeyes scored eight runs in the first five innings to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Winnipeg failed to score in the first inning, leaving the bases loaded, but the Fish scored several runs in the next three innings.

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After being shut out in the first game of the postseason, Winnipeg scored 27 runs in the final three games.

Ramon Bramasco hit a two-run homer in the second inning. Roby Enriquez also drove in a pair of runs and Dayson Croes had three RBI in the win.

Goldeyes starting pitcher Joey Matulovich returned for Game 1 after being shocked in the first round of the playoffs. He extended his playoff record to 1-1 after allowing just one earned run in six innings while retiring seven RedHawks batters.

It’s the 12th playoff meeting ever, dating back to 1996, between the two longtime Northern League rivals. Fargo has won seven of their first 11 playoff series, the last of which comes in 2022.

The final two games of the series, if necessary, will be played in Winnipeg. After the series has a day off on Tuesday, Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at Blue Cross Park, with a potential deciding Game 3 on Thursday.

The Kane County Cougars defeated the Chicago Dogs 5-2 in Game 1 of the East Division Championship series.

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