Lincoln Take Series from Explorers in Wild Contest

(Photo Courtesy of Tim Tushla, Sioux City Explorers)

Sioux City, Iowa-   Sunday’s Security National Bank Field scoreboard, at Lewis and Clark Park, looked like a Keno board when the game ended.  Regardless, the Lincoln Saltdogs earned their first series win of the season by winning the rubber game over the Sioux City Explorers, 11-10, Sunday afternoon, in American Association Baseball West Division action.

Lincoln (3-7) scored eleven runs, off twelve hits, committed two errors and stranded seven base runners.  Sioux City (5-5) had ten runs, off eleven hits, had five errors, and left five runners on base.  The game had two ejections, and a series that tallied three total, all against the Explorers. (Pitchers Tahnaj Thomas and Nate Gercken, along with Pitching Coach Bobby Post).  Sunday’s game was played in front of 1,116 fans.

Sioux City got the scoring started in the bottom of the first.  With two outs, Braulio Vasquez singled, off Lincoln starter Harold Cortijo.  Vasquez stole second. Then, Alberto Osuna hit a two-run home run to left, to put the Explorers ahead, 2-0.

The Saltdogs responded in the top of the second by taking advantage of Explorers’ miscues.  Jairo Pomares led off the inning by homering to straight away center field, off Sioux City starter Hunter Cashero.  Tanner O’Tremba reached on a throwing error, then stole second.  Then, Ryan Grabosch singled, scoring O’Tremba, to tie the game at 2-2.  Nick Shumpert hit a one-hopper back to Cashero, but a throwing error, put runners at first and second.  Calyn Halvorson laid down a sacrifice bunt, to put runners at second and third.  Then, Paul Myro drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.  Cam Phelts followed with an RBI groundout, putting Lincoln ahead, 4-2.

Lincoln duplicated their second inning output with four more runs, in top of the fourth, helped by three Sioux City errors.  Calyn Halvorson led off with a single.  The Explorers went to the bullpen and brought on Trey Morrill.  On his first pitch, Paul Myro laid down a sacrifice bunt.  Catcher Cade Marquardt fielded the ball and threw to second, but nobody covered, as the ball sailed into the center field.  Jackson Mayo approached the ball in center, and it bounced off his leg, advancing the runners.  Cam Phelts drew a walk, to load the bases.  Three batters later, Jairo Pomares doubled off the top of the right field wall, plating all three runners to put Lincoln ahed, 7-2.  Then, Tanner O’Tremba singled, scoring Pomares, to make it an 8-2 Lincoln lead.

Sioux City responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Alberto Osuna, Jackson Mayo and Jackson Van De Brake all drew walks, to load the bases.  Zane Denton hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Osuna, to make it 8-3.  Two batters later, Cade Marquardt hit a two-rbi single, to make the score, 8-5.

The Explorers crept closer in the bottom of the fifth.  Facing Lincoln reliever Cael Chatham, Zac Vooletich led off with single.  Then, Braulio Vasquez hit a two-run home run, to make the score, 8-7.

In the bottom of the seventh, Sioux City tied the score.  With one out, facing Saltdogs’ reliever Jeferson Figueroa, Braulio Vasquez singled.  Two batters later, Jackson Mayo hit a double, scoring Vasquez, to make the score, 8-8.

Lincoln recaptured the lead in a wild top of the eighth inning.  Facing Sioux City reliever Nate Gercken, Calyn Halvorson led off the inning with a single.  Then, with Paul Myro at the plate, he attempted to bunt.  As the pitch was delivered by Gercken, a balk was called.  Gercken argued the ruling and was ejected from the game.  Tahnaj Thomas took over on the mound for the Explorers.  A wild pitch advanced Halvorson to third.  A 2-2 Thomas pitch was ruled low, near the bottom of the zone, to push the count to 3-2.  Then, Myro dropped an RBI double to right, scoring Halvorson, to put Lincoln ahead, 9-8.  After the run scoring hit, Sioux City Pitching Coach Bobby Post argued with the home plate umpire about the prior pitch, to the hit, and he was ejected.  The next batter, Cam Phelts, singled, scoring Myro, to put Lincoln ahead, 10-8.  Two batters later, Cary Arbolida singled.  Then, Jairo Pomares singled, scoring Phelts, to put the Saltdogs ahead, 11-8.

The Explorers responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Facing Lincoln reliever David Shaw, Cade Marquardt smacked a one-out single.  Two batters later, Zac Vooletich singled to right, and an error by Tanner O’Tremba allowed the runners to reach first and third.  A wild pitch scored Marquardt, to make the score, 11-9.  Vooletich stole third and scored on an errant throw by Mason Minzey, to make the score, 11-10.

Lincoln was held scoreless in the top of the ninth.  The Saltdogs brought on Tyler Stasiowski to close out the game.  The right-handed did just that, retiring the Explorers in order, to earn the save, and give Lincoln the series-clinching victory.

Saltdogs starter Harold Cortijo went 4.0 innings, giving up five runs, off four hits, struck out two, and walked three.  Cael Chatham (2-0) claimed the win, in relief, working 2.1 innings, gave up two runs, off three hits and struck out two.  Jeferson Figueroa pitched 0.2 innings, gave up one run, off two hits, struck out one and walked one.  David Shaw pitched 1.0 inning, gave up two runs, off two hits.  Tyler Stasiowski (2) earned the save, pitching 1.0 inning and struck out one.

Sioux City starter Hunter Cashero pitched 3.0 innings, gave up five runs, one earned, off four hits and struck out two.  Trey Morrill pitched 2.0 innings, yielding three unearned runs, off two hits, struck out two and walked one.  Ryan Beaird pitched 1.0 inning, struck out one and walked one.  Rob Hughes pitched 1.0 inning and struck out one.  Nate Gercken (0-1) took the loss, facing one batter before his ejection, giving up one run off one hit.  Tahnaj Thomas pitched 2.0 innings, yielding two runs, off five hits and struck out one.

Offensively for Lincoln, Cam Phelts was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.  Jairo Pomares went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and drove in five runs.  Tanner O’Tremba was 2-for-4 with an RBI.  Ryan Grabosch went 1-for-4 and knocked in one run.  Paul Myro was 1-for-5 with two runs batted in.

For the Explorers, Zac Vooletich was 2-for-5.  Braulio Vasquez went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run.  Alberto Osuna was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run.  Cade Marquardt went 2-for-4 and drove home two runs.

Lincoln returns home on Memorial Day and will open a three-game series against the Kansas City Monarchs, on Monday night.  LHP Ryan Rembisz (0-1, 1.69 ERA) will pitch for the Saltdogs, while RHP Dylan Heid (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be on the mound for the Monarchs.  First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and video will stream live at:  www.aabaseball.tv.

Monday’s game is MINI & MILITARY MONDAY! Fans 12 and under and all military personnel receive Buy One-Get One Free Tickets.  It’s also Saltdogs Guaranteed Win Night.  If the Saltdogs don’t win the 5/25 game, fans may exchange their ticket at the box office for a FREE ticket of equal or lesser value to the 5/26 home game.  For tickets, merchandise and more information, go to:  www.saltdogs.com.