Five runs in the first inning propels Winnipeg Goldeyes to the second round of the play-offs – Winnipeg

There were some tense moments, but the Winnipeg Goldeyes are safely through to the second round of the playoffs.

The Goldeyes popped the champagne after beating the Sioux Falls Canaries 10-3 in a must-win Game 3 on Saturday at Blue Cross Park. After losing the series opener, Winnipeg won the final two games of the West Division semifinal at home to salvage their season, winning the best-of-three series two games to one.

It’s their first series win since winning the American Association Championship in 2017.

The Goldeyes scored five runs in the first inning and were never really in danger after battling back against the wall the night before to win Game 2. The Fish chased Canaries starter Neil Lang out of the game in the very first inning.

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Edwin Arroyo and Miles Simington each hit three-run home runs, with Simington driving in five runs in the tiebreaker.

Goldeyes starting pitcher Mitchell Lambson earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work while retiring six batters before making way for the bullpen.

Trevor Achenbach and Josh Rehwaldt hit homeruns in the loss for the Canaries.

The Goldeyes have a 9-3 elimination record since joining the American Association in 2011, and have not been eliminated at home in 15 years.

Winnipeg will face the rival Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the best-of-three West Division Championship series. Game 1 is scheduled for Monday in North Dakota, with the final two games, if necessary, played Wednesday and Thursday in Winnipeg.

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