Complete Team Effort Results in Saltdogs Victory

Lincoln, Nebraska- Saturday night at Haymarket Park, Foster Pace delivered a quality start while Jairo Pomares and Connor Bagnieski homered, leading the Lincoln Saltdogs to a 12-2 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes.  Lincoln evened the series with their West Division foes, who had their 13-game winning streak halted.

Lincoln (32-41) scored twelve runs, off ten hits, committed no errors, and left six runners on base.  Winnipeg (40-32) had two runs, with five hits, no errors, and stranded eight base runners.  Saturday night’s game lasted two hours and fifty-three minutes and was played in front of 4,515 fans.

The Saltdogs started the scoring in the bottom of the first.  Facing Winnipeg starter James Bradwell, Cam Phelts led off the inning with a walk, then stole his fortieth base of the season, by taking second.  Two batters later, Jairo Pomares hit a two-run home run to right field.  His eleventh of the season put Lincoln in front 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Pomares led off the inning by drawing a walk.  Then, Connor Bagnieski hit a double into the right field corner, which scored Pomares, to make it 3-0.  Three batters later, Calyn Halvorson singled, scoring Bagnieski, to make it a 4-0 Lincoln lead.

Lincoln increased the lead in the bottom of the fifth.  Paul Myro IV led off the inning with a single and took second on a wild pitch.  Then, Cam Phelts singled, scoring Myro IV, to make it a 5-0 Saltdogs advantage.

The Saltdogs added on in the bottom of the sixth.  Facing reliever Quinn Waterhouse, Cary Arbolida, Tanner O’Tremba and Calyn Halvorson drew consecutive walks.  Then, Griffin Everitt hit a two-RBI single, to make it 7-0.  Winnipeg went to the bullpen and brought in Eli Saul to pitch.  The next batter, Paul Myro IV, hit into a fielder’s choice which allowed Halvorson to score, and Lincoln led 8-0.

Winnipeg got on the board in the top of the seventh.  Facing Lincoln starter Foster Pace, Keshawn Lynch and Raphael Pelletier drew back-to-back walks.  After Max Murphy hit a fly ball to right, which advanced Lynch to third, Kevin Garcia delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Lynch, to make it 8-1.

Lincoln’s biggest inning came in the bottom of the eighth.  With one out, Cam Phelts, Nick Shumpert, and Jairo Pomares all singled, the latter of which drove in Phelts, to make it 9-1.  Then, Connor Bagnieski hit a three-run home run to right field.  His third homer of the season put Lincoln in front, 12-1.

In the top of the ninth, facing Lincoln reliever Gabriel Jaramillo, Keshawn Lynch singled and took second on a wild pitch.  Then, Raphael Pelletier delivered a base hit, scoring Lynch, to make the score 12-2.  After giving up a single to Max Murphy, Jaramillo got Kevin Garcia to ground out to first and Roby Enriquez to fly out to left, to end the game.

Saltdogs starter Foster Pace (3-3) earned the win, pitching 7.0 innings, giving up one run, off two hits, struck out three and walked three.  Tyler Stasiowski pitched 1.0 inning and walked one.  Gabriel Jaramillo worked 1.0 inning, yielding one run, off three hits.

Goldeyes starting pitcher James Bradwell (0-3) took the loss, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up five runs, off five hits, struck out three and walked three.  Quinn Waterhouse worked 0.1 inning, yielding three runs, off one hit and walked three.  Eli Saul pitched 3.0 innings, surrendering four runs, off four hits, struck out four and walked one.

Offensively for Lincoln, Cam Phelts was 2-for-3 and drove in one run. His stolen base puts hit one shy of the franchise record, set by Dustin Delucchi, in the 2002 season.  Jairo Pomares was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and drove in three.  Connor Bagnieski was 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and four RBIs.  Calyn Halvorson was 1-for-3 with a run batted in.  Griffin Everitt was 1-for-4 and drove in two.  Paul Myro IV went 1-for-3 with one RBI.

For Winnipeg, Raphael Pelletier was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Kevin Garcia was 0-for-3 with one run batted in.

The final game of the series is Sunday afternoon.  RHP Jacob Hughes (3-2, 5.87 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Luke Boyd (8-3, 4.06 ERA) will be on the mound for Winnipeg.  The first pitch at Haymarket Park will be 1:05 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

Sunday’s game is FAMILY FUNDAY SUNDAY!, where your admission package gets you a Ticket, Fairbury Brand Hot Dog, Chips, & Pepsi Fountain Soda. It’s also Signature Sundays sponsored by Wild Dutchman, as a pair of Saltdogs players will sign autographs at the Welcome Center 30 minutes prior to first pitch.  Also, it’s the Lincoln Libraries Summer Reading Program Recognition Day.  Plus, it’s Teachers Appreciation Day, where teachers get a BOGO FREE Ticket with their School ID.  In addition, Kids 12 & under receive a FREE General Admission ticket when wearing a youth sports jersey, sponsored by Spine & Sports Chiropractic.  For tickets, merchandise, and more information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.