Lincoln Completes Huge Comeback to Defeat Monarchs

Kansas City, Kansas- It did not look good.  Riding a five-game losing streak and beginning the back end of a season-long road trip, the “Baseball Gods” would say things were not in Lincoln’s favor heading into Tuesday night’s game against the AAPB West Division leading Kansas City Monarchs.  After three innings, the Saltdogs trailed 7-0.  Yep, it did not look good.  However, on a quiet night where less than 1,000 fans were in attendance, Lincoln created its own energy the remainder of the game and battled back to claim a 12-9 victory, at Legends Field.  The victory was the first for the Saltdogs at Legends Field, since August 10, 2024…nearly two years, ago.

Lincoln (30-39) scored twelve runs, off fourteen hits, with no errors, and left five runners on base.  Kansas City (40-29) had nine runs, with nine hits, committed two errors and stranded nine base runners.  Tuesday night’s game lasted three hours and two minutes and was played in front of 948 fans.

In the top of the first, Kansas City sent ten batters to the plate.  Facing Lincoln starter Jacob Hughes, Sahid Valenzuela reached on a one-out single.  Then, Luken Baker hit a two-run home run to left field.  The next batter, Hudson Head, drew a walk.  J.D. Davis followed with a single.  Then, Grant Richardson hit a three-run home run to left field, putting Kansas City in front, 5-0.

The Monarchs extended the lead in the bottom of the second.  Sahid Valenzuela was hit by a pitch, then took second base, on a wild pitch.  Luken Baker doubled, putting runners at second and third.  Three batters later, Grant Richardson hit a single, driving in the runners, to make it 7-0.

The Saltdogs got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth.  Facing Kansas City starter Michael Mariot, Jake Hjelle reached on a one-out infield single.  Then, Jairo Pomares singled.  Cary Arbolida smacked a single, scoring Hjelle, to make it 7-1.  A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third.  Two batters later, Calyn Halvorson singled, scoring Pomares and Arbolida, to make it 7-3.

Kansas City got a run back in the bottom of the fourth.  With one out, Luken Baker hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to left field, to make it 8-3.

Lincoln responded in the top of the fifth.  With one out Nick Shumpert homered to left field.  His fifth home run of the year made the score 8-4.

The Monarchs pushed their lead back to five runs in the bottom of the seventh.  Facing Lincoln reliever Jack Hill, Trevor Boone led off with a walk.  Two batters later, Wilfred Veras hit a high fly ball to center field, which Cam Phelts lost in the lights.  By the time the ball was retrieved, Veras tripled, scoring Boone, to make it 9-4.

Then, the Saltdogs made their comeback, by sending ten batters to the plate in the top of the eighth.  Facing Kansas City reliever Wyatt Wendell, Jake Hjelle led off the inning with a single.  Jairo Pomares drew a walk.  Two batters later, Connor Bagnieski walked, to load the bases.  Then, Calyn Halvorson hit a two-rbi single, to make it 9-6.  The Monarchs went to the bullpen and brought in Jacob Gomez to pitch.  The next batter, Jacob Morrow, reached on a fielding error by Sahid Valenzuela at shortstop.  The play scored Bagnieski, to make it 9-7.  Tanner O’Tremba pinch hit and drew a walk.  Cam Phelts singled, scoring Halvorson, to make it 9-8.  On the play, Jacob Morrow attempted to score, put was thrown out at the plate, for the second out of the inning.  Then, Nick Shumpert singled to right, scoring O’Tremba and Phelts, to make it a 10-9 Lincoln lead.

Lincoln plated a pair of big insurance runs in the top of the ninth.  Facing Monarchs’ reliever Tyler Myrick, Cary Arbolida drew a one-out walk.  Then, Connor Bagnieski hit a two-run home run to center field.  His second homer of the season put Lincoln ahead 12-9.

In the bottom of the ninth, Zac McCleve struck out Trevor Boone swinging.  He got Saul Garza to fly out to center field.  Then, McCleve struck out Wilfred Veras, swinging, to end the game.

Saltdogs starter Jacob Hughes pitched 5.0 innings, giving up eight runs, off eight hits, struck out six, and walked three.  Ryan Spalliero pitched 0.2 innings and walked three.  Jack Hill (1-0) pitched 1.1 innings, giving up one run, off one hit, struck out one and walked one.  Jeferson Figueroa pitched 0.2 innings and walked one.  Gabriel Jaramillo pitched 0.1 inning and struck out one.  Zac McCleve (6) earned the save, pitching 1.0 inning and struck out two.

Kansas City starter, former Nebraska Cornhusker and World Series Champion (KCR ’15) Michael Mariot, pitched 6.0 innings, giving up four runs, off nine hits, struck out two and walked one.  Jay Groome pitched 1.0 inning, struck out one and walked one.  Wyatt Wendall worked 0.1 inning, giving up four runs, off two hits, struck out one and walked one.  Jacob Gomez (0-2) took the loss, pitching 0.2 innings, yielding two unearned runs, off two hits and struck out one.  Tyler Myrick pitched 1.0 inning, gave up two runs, off one hit, struck out one and walked one.

Offensively for Lincoln, Cam Phelts was 1-for-5 with an RBI.  Nick Shumpert was 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three runs batted in.  Jake Hjelle was 2-for-5.  Jairo Pomares was 2-for-3.  Cary Arbolida went 1-for-4 and drove in two runs.  Connor Bagnieski was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run.  Calyn Halvorson was 3-for-5 with four RBIs.  Jacob Morrow was 1-for-5 and knocked in one run.

For the Monarchs, Luken Baker was 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a solo home run.  Grant Richardson was 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and five runs batted in.  Wilfred Veras was 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Game two of the three-game series is Wednesday night.  RHP Graham Edwards (2-7, 8.48 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Geison Urbaez (2-1, 2.25 ERA) will be on the mound for Kansas City.  First pitch at Legends Field will be 6:35 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.