Goldeyes Pull Away from Saltdogs

Winnipeg, Manitoba- The Winnipeg Goldeyes scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings and defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs, 9-3, Saturday night at Blue Cross Park.  Max Murphy hit his eighth home run of the season for Winnipeg, who won its seventh in a row.  Three Saltdogs recorded a pair of hits, in Lincoln’s fourth straight loss.

Winnipeg (34-31) scored nine runs, with eleven hits, committed two errors, and left six runners on base.  Lincoln (29-38) had three runs, off seven hits, with three errors, and stranded six base runners.  Saturday night’s game lasted two hours and forty-four minutes and was played in front of 3,208 fans.

The Goldeyes got on the board in the bottom of the second.  Facing Lincoln starter Cael Chatham, Keshawn Lynch and Ramon Bramasco hit back-to-back singles.  Then, Raphael Pellatier’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third.  The next batter, Max Murphy, hit a sacrifice fly to the wall in centerfield, scoring Lynch, to make it 1-0.

Lincoln tied the game in the top of the third.  Facing Winnipeg starter James Colyer, Paul Myro IV led off with a walk, stole second, then took third on a balk.  Two batters later, Nick Shumpert singled to left, scoring Myro IV, to make it 1-1.

Winnipeg recaptured the lead in the bottom of the third.  With one out, Roby Enriquez grounded to second and reached on an error by Paul Myro IV.  Two batters later, Noah Marcelo singled, putting runners at first and third.  Marcelo attempted to steal second.  Jacob Morrow’s throw was short of the base and blocked by Paul Myro IV.  After picking up the ball, Marcelo got in a run down between first and second, allowing Enriquez to score, before being tagged out, to make the score, 2-1.

The Goldeyes added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.  With two outs, Raphael Pelletier, and Max Murphy singled.  Then, Jiondido Tromp drove in Pelletier with a single.  A wild pitch scored Murphy to make it 4-1.

The Saltdogs battled back in the top of the sixth.  Facing reliever Aidan Newton, Jairo Pomares led off with a walk.  Two batters later, Tanner O’Tremba doubled, scoring Pomares.  After a Calyn Halvorson groundout advanced O’Tremba to third, Cam Dayton singled, scoring O’Tremba, to make it 4-3.  However, that is as close as the Saltdogs would get.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, facing Lincoln reliever Tyler Stasiowski, Ray-Patrick Didder reached on a two-out single.  Then, Roby Enriquez hit a ground ball up the first base line, which Stasiowski was able to field, but bobbled, allowing Enriquez to reach, plus an errant Stasiowski throw to first advanced Didder to third.  Adam Hall drew a walk.  Then, Noah Marcelo hit a two-rbi single, to make the score 6-3.

Winnipeg put the game well out of reach in the bottom of the eighth.  Facing reliever Harold Cortijo, Ramon Bramasco and Raphael Pelletier drew back-to-back walks.  Then, Max Murphy hit a three-run home run to left field, to make it 9-3, which was the final score.

Goldeyes’ starter James Colyer pitched 4.0 innings, giving up one run, off five hits, struck out four and walked one.  Aidan Newton (2-0) earned the win, pitching 2.2 innings, giving up two runs, off two hits, struck out two, and walked two.  Quinn Waterhouse pitched 0.1 inning, inducing a groundball out.  Eli Saul worked 1.0 inning and struck out one.  Derrick Cherry pitched 1.0 inning and struck out one.

Lincoln starter Cael Chatham (3-2) took the loss, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up four runs, three earned, off eight hits and struck out one.  Tyler Stasiowski worked 0.2 innings, yielding two unearned runs, off two hits, and walked one.  Harold Cortijo pitched 0.2 innings, surrendering three runs, off one hit, and walked three.  Jack Hill pitched 0.2 innings, getting a pop up and a ground out.

Offensively for Winnipeg, Noah Marcelo was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.  Ramon Bramasco was 2-for-3.  Max Murphy was 2-for-2 with a three-run home run and four runs batted in.  Jiondido Tromp went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

For the Saltdogs, Nick Shumpert, Tanner O’Tremba and Cam Dayton each were 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The final game of the series is Sunday afternoon.  RHP Foster Pace (2-3, 5.26 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP James Bradwell (0-2, 13.98 ERA) will be on the mound for Winnipeg.  The first pitch will be 1:00 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

The next Saltdogs home game will be Friday, August 7^th, when Lincoln hosts the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Haymarket Park, beginning at 7:05 p.m.  That game will be FREE T-SHIRT FRIDAY! sponsored by Abante Marketing.  It is also The Arc of Lincoln Disability Empowerment Night.  In addition, there will be Post-Game Fireworks sponsored by Sandhills Global.  Plus, part of the Saltdogs 25th Season Celebration, there will be 25% off in the Souvenir Store.  For tickets, merchandise and more information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.