When asked what was working for him on the mound Sunday, Joe Sergent's response was simple:
"Everything," he said.
That was reflected on the scoreboard. Sergent's strong performance guided the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to a 7-0 win over Edmonton at Newman Outdoor Field.
With the win, F-M (26-15 second half, 52-36 overall) keeps its three-game lead over Winnipeg in the North Division with seven to play. Winnipeg scored five times in the ninth inning to beat Calgary 7-5 on Sunday.
In eight innings, Sergent allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out eight.
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"I had a good fastball, I had a good slider," Sergent said. "My change-up came a little bit later."
The southpaw was on from the start, retiring 12 of the first 14 batters he faced. He ultimately sat down 18 of the first 20 men before getting into a jam with players on second and third with no outs in the seventh.
However, Sergent got the next three hitters to end the inning.
Offensively, Sergent got all the help he would need in the first inning on Richard Austin's two-run opposite-field homer to left-center field.
"It was good to see Richard (do that)," RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said. "He utilized the elements (the wind was blowing to left), he went over there, the other way. He's been swinging the bat pretty good for us lately."
The RedHawks added three more in the third before a pair of solo home runs from Kory Wayment and Billy Munoz closed out the scoring
That offense helped Sergent improve his record to 7-1.
Sergent is 6-0 against the Cracker-Cats in 2005 and 2007 combined. This season, he's 3-0, allowing just three runs in 21Zc innings.
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Those numbers aren't that surprising considering Sergent has some extra motivation to beat Edmonton.
"(In 2006, Edmonton) picked me up but never signed me," Sergent said. "They never called me or anything like that. So they pretty much left me to rot."
When last season ended, Sergent said Edmonton had to release him. Upon doing so, he was scooped up again by the RedHawks.
He said that makes wins like Sunday's that much more special.
"It's kind of nice to say, 'You know what? You guys had your shot last year with me, but now, sorry,' " Sergent said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Chris Lempesis at (701) 241-5544
