Lincoln Rally Falls Short

(Photo courtesy of Winnipeg Goldeyes)

Winnipeg, Manitoba-   Saturday night at Blue Cross Park, the Winnipeg Goldeyes defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs, 11-8, in American Association Baseball action.  Lincoln trailed 9-2 after four innings and made it a 10-8 ball game going into the seventh inning stretch, however, fell short in the comeback attempt.

Winnipeg (15-18) has won three in a row from the Saltdogs and claimed the first two games of this weekend series, with Saturday night’s win.  The Goldeyes scored eleven runs, off fourteen hits, committed one error, and stranded ten base runners.  Lincoln (12-20) plated eight runs, off ten hits, had one error, and left eleven runners on base.  Saturday night’s game lasted three hours and twenty-one minutes and was played in front of 4,803 fans.

Lincoln started the scoring in the top of the second.  Facing Winnipeg starting pitcher Tasker Strobel, Connor Bagnieski led off with a walk.  Then, Jack Dragum singled.  Paul Myro laid down a sacrifice bunt to get the runners to second and third.  Then, Jacob Morrow hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Bagnieski.  The next batter, Cam Phelts, singled, bringing in Dragum, to put Lincoln ahead 2-0.

The Goldeyes responded by capturing the lead in the bottom of the second.  Facing Lincoln starting pitcher Ryan Rembisz, Ray-Patrick Didder reached on a one-out walk.  Then, Keyshawn Lynch reached on an error.  T.J. Schofield-Sam singled, scoring Didder, to make it 2-1.  A balk advanced the runners to second and third.  Kevin Garcia singled, driving in a run.  Two batters later, Adam Hall doubled, driving in two, to make it a 4-2 Winnipeg lead.

Winnipeg extended the lead in the bottom of the third.  With two outs, Ray-Patrick Didder was hit by a pitch.  Then, Keshawn Lynch doubled down the left field line, scoring Didder, to make it a 5-2 Goldeyes lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Goldeyes sent ten batters to the plate and scored four more runs.  Ramon Bramasco singled; Adam Hall doubled; Noah Marcelo hit a two-rbi single; Max Murphy singled and Jiondido Tromp hit a rbi single, to begin the inning.  Lincoln went to the bullpen and brought Cael Chatham in to pitch.  Two batters later, Keshawn Lynch hit a rbi single to make it a 9-2 Winnipeg lead.

Lincoln got a run back in the top of the fifth.  Calyn Halvorson led off with a single.  Then, Jake Hjelle doubled.  Two batters later, Cary Arbolida hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Halvorson, to make it 9-3.

The Goldeyes plated one in the bottom of the sixth, when T.J. Schofield-Sam hit a two-out solo home run to right field, to make it a 10-3 Winnipeg lead.

The Saltdogs battled back in the top of the seventh by sending eleven batters to the plate and scoring five runs.  Facing relief pitcher Weston Lombard, Calyn Halvorson reached on a one-out walk.  Then, Jake Hjelle singled.  Two batters later, facing Winnipeg reliever Dominic Hambley, Cary Arbolida walked.  Then, Connor Bagnieski hit a rbi single.  Jack Dragum walked.  Then, Paul Myro drew a bases loaded walk.  The Goldeyes brought in Quinn Waterhouse to pitch.  The next batter, Jacob Morrow walked, driving in a run.  Then, Cam Phelts walked, bringing in Dragum, to make the score 10-8.

Winnipeg got an insurance run back in the bottom of the seventh.  Facing Lincoln’s Gabriel Jaramillo, Ramon Bramasco singled.  Then, Adam Hall tripled to right field, scoring Bramasco, to make it 11-8, which would turn out to be the final score.

Goldeyes starting pitcher Tasker Strobel (2-1) earned the win, pitching 5.0 innings, giving up three runs, off nine hits, struck out one, and walked two.  Weston Lombard pitched 1.2 innings, yielding two runs, off one hit, and walked one.  Dominic Hambley faced four batters and did not record an out, giving up three runs, off one hit, and walked three.  Quinn Waterhouse pitched 0.1 inning and walked two.  Derrick Cherry (6) earned the save, pitching 2.0 innings, striking out two and walking one.

Lincoln starter Ryan Rembisz (1-5) took the loss, pitching 3.0 innings, giving up nine runs, six earned, off nine hits, struck out three, and walked two.  Cael Chatham pitched 3.0 innings, yielding one run, off two hits, struck out three, and walked two.  Gabriel Jaramillo worked 1.0 inning, gave up one run, off two hits, and struck out one.  David Shaw pitched 1.0 inning and gave up one hit and struck out two.

Offensively for Winnipeg, Ramon Bramasco was 2-for-5.  Adam Hall went 3-for-5 with an RBI.  Noah Marcelo was 1-for-3 with two runs batted in.  Jiondido Tromp was 1-for-5 and knocked in one run.  Keshawn Lynch was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.  T.J. Schofield-Sam was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.  Kevin Garcia went 1-for-4 with one run batted in.

For the Saltdogs, Cam Phelts was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.  Calyn Halvorson was 3-for-5.  Jake Hjelle went 2-for-5.  Cary Arbolida was 0-for-3 with an RBI, plus extended his current on-base streak to 31 straight games.  Connor Bagnieski was 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Paul Myro went 0-for-2 and drove in one run.  Jacob Morrow was 0-for-2 with two runs batted in.

The final game of the three-game series is Sunday afternoon at Blue Cross Park.  RHP Foster Pace (0-2, 5.49 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Luke Boyd (3-1, 4.67 ERA) will be on the mound for Winnipeg.  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.

Lincoln’s next home game will be Friday, June 26^th, against the Chicago Dogs, at 7:05 p.m.  That night will be FREE T-SHIRT FRIDAY! sponsored by Abante Marketing.  It will also be Farmers Appreciation Night sponsored by AKRS Equipment.  Plus, there will be a Jersey Auction to benefit the Nebraska FFA Foundation.  In addition, there will be Post- Game Fireworks.  For tickets, merchandise, and more information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.