FARGO – C.J. Retherford was in his customary postgame spot Saturday night at Newman Outdoor Field, standing near the backstop with his son, Walker, in his arms.
“He puts a smile on my face no matter how bad of a night you have,” the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks second baseman said.
Retherford had a good night Saturday, belting three hits and scoring two runs. His performance helped lift the RedHawks to a 5-4 victory against Gary SouthShore in American Association baseball before 3,880 fans.
“He’s hot,” RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said of Retherford. “He’s looking for balls to drive. When he gets something to wail on, he will wail on it. He’s not bashful.”
The RedHawks (36-43) have won two of their past three games, but remain a longshot to make the playoffs with 20 games on their regular-season schedule.
“We’re going to be engaged,” Simunic said. “We have to be engaged. We’re going to try and finish as hard as we can.”
Walker, who is less than two years old, has been in Fargo all season with Retherford.
“It helps a lot especially in the hard times,” Retherford said of having Walker around. “In the down times, I can go home and forget about it.”
Retherford scored what proved to be the game-winning run Saturday, leading off the seventh inning with a double into left field. Erik Castro followed with a single into center field that scored Retherford and gave the RedHawks a 5-3 lead.
Retherford also led off the sixth inning with a single, sparking a three-run rally. He finished 3-for-4, pushing his season average to .297.
“I’m swinging at strikes, being on time, and having runners on base also helps,” Retherford said. “I’m feeling really locked in and swinging at strikes.”
RedHawks starter Brian Ernst (8-4) pitched six solid innings to earn the victory. The right-hander allowed three runs, scattering eight hits. Ernst struck out five batters and walked two.
“He gave up a couple scratch hits here or there,” Simunic said of Ernst. “I thought the bullpen did a good job, too.”
NOTES: Right-hander Nick McCully (0-0, 3.85 ERA) is set to start today for the RedHawks. Gary SouthShore is expected to counter with right-hander Morgan Coombs (5-8, 5.30 ERA). … The RedHawks have a 19-20 record at Newman Outdoor Field this season.
GARY REDHAWKS
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Pulfer ss 5 1 2 0 Penprs ss 5 0 1 0
Mrtnz rf 5 0 1 1 Brqun 3b 4 0 1 0
Mitchll 2b 5 0 1 1 Jcksn cf 4 1 1 0
Bbnea c 5 0 2 0 Rthrfd 2b 4 2 3 0
Rmnski lf 3 1 0 0 Castro 1b 4 1 3 2
Bckmn 1b 3 0 1 0 Prmr c 4 1 1 2
Garcia 3b 4 1 1 0 Crrll dh 4 0 2 0
Bishp dh 3 0 0 0 Tripp rf 4 0 2 1
Muren cf 4 1 3 2 Kskdn lf 4 0 0 0
Totals 37 4 11 4 Totals 37 5 14 5
G 000 021 010–4 11 0
FM 100 003 10x–5 14 2
2B–Babineau (10), Retherford (32), Castro (8), Paramore (11), Tripp (16). SB–Garcia (2), Muren (8). LOB–G 9, FM 9. E–Castro (23), Paramore (35), Ernst 2 (18). DP–G 1, FM 1.
GARY
IP H R ER BB SO
Bougher 5 9 3 3 0 2
Fontana, L X\c 3 1 1 1 0
Kadish 1Z\c 2 1 1 0 0
Loomis 1 0 0 0 0 1
REDHAWKS
IP H R ER BB SO
Ernst, W 6 8 3 3 2 5
Draxton 1 1 0 0 0 1
Harris 1 2 1 0 0 2
Garcia, S 1 0 0 0 0 1
Umpires–Home: Bauer. First: Wilmes. Third: Hicks. Time–3:05. A–3,880.
