But Reggie wasn ’ t finished . After Wichita scored twice in the bottom of the seventh , Abercrombie had an answer . With two out in the eighth , 2016 league all-star Cabrera singled – his fourth hit of the game – and Abercrombie came up and once again , this time on a 1-1 count , drilled a belt-high fastball over the wall for his second two-run home run in as many innings . With seven RBI , he set a Goldeyes post-season franchise record .
The Goldeyes added a run in the ninth and then closer Winston Abreu
Pitching ace Kevin McGovern had a great start in the final
came on in the ninth and shut down the Wingnuts without so much as a whimper .
McGovern ( 1-1 , 3.44 ERA ), on only three days ’ rest , allowed two runs on five hits over six-plus innings of work and got the win . Victor Capellan , Eric Eadington and Abreu came on over the final three innings shut door . Wichita starter Alex Boshers ( 2-1 , 5.28 ERA ) lasted only 3.1 innings and suffered the loss .
Winnipeg outhit Wichita 17-6 . A handful of Goldeyes had multi-hit
games : Leadoff man Adam Heisler went four-for-six with a run and an RBI ; Cabrera went four-for-five with three runs scored and an RBI ; Abercrombie went three-for-four with two runs scored and seven driven in ; Grider went three-for-five with three runs scored and Tanabe went twofor-five with a run scored and an RBI . American Association All-Star Game MVP and post-season all-star David Rohm led all Goldeyes batters with a . 436 mark in the post-season . Cabrera finished at . 376 while Grider hit . 308 and Heisler hit . 302 .
The last time the Goldeyes won the championship , it was in the same stadium . However , the last time , in 2012 , the Goldeyes swept Wichita in three straight games . This time , they had to come back to win it , but this team was 29-21 on the road this season and had no problem pulling off the minor miracle on back-to-back nights .
There is nothing sweeter than winning a championship . For Winnipeg baseball fans , it will be a long , satisfying winter . •
Photography by Jeff and Tara Miller 204-430-5522
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