Saltdogs Split See-Saw Series

Franklin, Wisconsin- Thursday afternoon, the Lincoln Saltdogs defeated the Milwaukee Milkmen, 10-8, in ten innings, at Franklin Field.  Down to their final out, the Saltdogs’ Jairo Pomares hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth to tie the game.  After scoring a run in the top of the tenth, Paul Myro IV hit his first home run of the season, a two-run blast, to put the game out of reach.  With the victory, Lincoln split the four-game series with the top team in the American Association.

Lincoln (40-50) scored ten runs, off thirteen hits, committed one error, and left six runners on base.  Milwaukee (53-37) had eight runs, with nine hits, no errors and stranded seven runners aboard.  Thursday’s game lasted three hours and nine minutes and was played in front of 892 fans.

Milwaukee started the scoring in the bottom of the first.  Facing Lincoln starter Jacob Hughes, Andy Blake hit a two-out triple to left-center field.  Then, Alec Olund tripled to left-center field, scoring Blake, to make the score, 1-0.

The Saltdogs tied the score in the top of the third.  Facing Milwaukee starter Christian Young, Jacob Morrow led off the inning with a single.  Paul Myro IV’s sacrifice bunt advanced Morrow to second.  Then, a wild pitch advanced Morrow to third.  Two batters later, Nick Shumpert singled, scoring Morrow, to tie the score at 1-1.

The Milkmen regained the lead in the bottom of the third.  With one out, Yordys Valdes singled, then took second on a wild pitch.  Delvin Perez drew a walk.  Then, Andy Blake hit a three-run home run to left field, to make it a 4-1 Milwaukee lead.

Lincoln responded by sending nine batters to the plate and scored four runs in the top of the fifth.  Calyn Halvorson led off the inning with a single.  Jacob Morrow followed with an RBI double, to make it 4-2.  Paul Myro IV grounded out to second, advancing Morrow to third.  Then, Samuel Benjamin singled down the left field line, scoring Morrow, to make it 4-3. The next batter, Nick Shumpert, singled, putting runners at first and second.  Two batters later, Jairo Pomares walked, to load the bases.  Then, Connor Bagnieski doubled into the right field corner, scoring Benjamin and Shumpert, to make it a 5-4 Saltdogs lead.

Milwaukee grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the sixth.  Andy Blake led off the inning with a walk and took second on a wild pitch.  Alec Olund reached on a fielder’s choice, putting runners at first and third.  Then, Jeremy Rivas hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Blake, to tie the score at 5-5.  Two batters later, Edrick Felix tripled to the right-center field wall, scoring Olund, to make it a 6-5 Milkmen lead.  The next batter, Carlos Linares, singled, scoring Felix, to put Milwaukee ahead 7-5.

The Saltdogs cut the deficit in half in the top of the seventh.  Facing reliever Mickey Scheetz, Cary Arbolida hit a one out double, then, took third on a passed ball.  Jairo Pomares drew a walk.  Then, Connor Bagnieski hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Arbolida, to make the score, 7-6.

Lincoln came up with some late-inning magic in the top of the ninth.  With two outs, facing Milwaukee closer Ryan Boyer, Jairo Pomares hit a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run, to tie the score at 7-7.  The Milkmen were held scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, thus, forcing extra innings.

Connor Bagnieski was the placed runner at second, for Lincoln, in the top of the tenth inning.  Facing reliever Sam Staerker, Jacob Morrow delivered a two-out single, scoring Bagnieski, to make the score, 8-7.  Then, Paul Myro IV hit a two-run home run to left field.  His first home run of the season made the score, 10-7.

In the bottom of the tenth, Milwaukee’s Alec Olund was the placed runner at second base.  Facing Lincoln reliever Gabriel Jaramillo, Jeremy Rivas struck out swinging.  Then, Wendell Marrero doubled down the right field line, scoring Olund, to make it 10-8.  The next batter, Edrick Felix, grounded out to second, advancing Marrero to third.  Then, Jaramillo struck out pinch-hitter Griffin Doersching, swinging, to end the game.

Saltdogs starter Jacob Hughes pitched 5.2 innings, giving up seven runs, off six hits, struck out six and walked two.  Drake LaRoche pitched 2.1 innings, yielding one hit, struck out one and walked two.  Ryan Rembisz (3-5) earned the win, pitching 1.0 inning, giving up one hit.  Gabriel Jaramillo (2) earned the save, throwing 1.0 inning, yielding one unearned run, off one hit and struck out two.

Milwaukee starting pitcher Christian Young threw 5.0 innings, giving up five runs, off eight hits, struck out three and walked one.  Hunter Bryan threw 1.0 inning, yielding one hit and struck out one.  Mickey Scheetz worked 0.2 innings, giving up one run, off one hit, struck out one and walked one.  Brady Puckett worked 0.1 inning and struck out one.  Matt Givin threw 1.0 inning, struck out one and walked one.  Ryan Boyer pitched 1.0 inning, giving up one run, off one hit and struck out one.  Sam Staerker (4-2) took the loss, pitching 1.0 inning, surrendering three runs, two earned, off two hits and struck out one.

Offensively for Lincoln, Nick Shumpert was 2-for-5 with an RBI.  Jairo Pomares was 2-for-3 with a solo home run.  Connor Bagnieski was 1-for-4 and drove in three runs.  Jacob Morrow went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.  Paul Myro IV was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run.  Samuel Benjamin went 1-for-3 with one RBI.

For the Milkmen, Andy Blake was 2-for-4 with a three-run home run.  Alec Olund went 2-for-5 with one run batted in.  Jeremy Rivas went 0-for-4 with an RBI.  Wendell Marrero was 1-for-5 with an RBI.  Edrick Felix and Carlos Linares were both 1-for-4 with an RBI, each.

Lincoln returns home to begin their final homestand of the season by hosting the Kansas City Monarchs, in a three-game weekend series, starting Friday.  RHP Graham Edwards (2-9, 8.00 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Geison Urbaez (3-3, 4.64 ERA) will be on the mound for Kansas City.  The first pitch at Haymarket Park will be 7:05 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

The Saltdogs will return home for their final homestand of the regular season, beginning Friday night, versus the Kansas City Monarchs, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.  Friday night’s game is FREE T-SHIRT FRIDAY! sponsored by Abante Marketing. Plus, a T-Shirt Giveaway sponsored by Sandhills Global. Also, there will be Post-Game Fireworks sponsored by Sandhills Global.  For tickets, merchandise and more information visit: www.saltdogs.com.