Milwaukee Rallies to Walk Off Saltdogs

Franklin, Wisconsin- Down to its final strike, twice, the Milwaukee Milkmen scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 4-3, Wednesday night at Franklin Field.  Alec Olund hit an RBI double to tie the game, then, Charlie Marion singled, scoring Olund, to provide the walk-off Milkmen victory.  Cary Arbolida, Griffin Everitt, and Paul Myro IV had two hits each for Lincoln, in the loss.

Milwaukee (53-36) scored four runs, off seven hits, committed one error, and left four runners on base.  Lincoln (39-50) had three runs, with eight hits, no errors, and left seven runners aboard.  Wednesday night’s game at Franklin Field lasted two hours and forty-one minutes and was played in front of 1,706 fans.

Lincoln got on the board first, in the top of the fourth inning.  Facing Milwaukee starter Angelo Cabral, Cary Arbolida led off the inning with a single.  Jairo Pomares drew a walk.  Then, Jake Hjelle reached on a throwing error at third by Jeremy Rivas, which loaded the bases.  Then, Connor Bagnieski hit a bouncing ball to second, which forced out Hjelle, however, Arbolida scored, to make it 1-0.  The next batter, Tanner O’Tremba, singled to center, scoring Pomares, to make it a 2-0 Lincoln lead.

Milwaukee cut the Saltdogs’ lead in half, in the bottom of the fifth.  Facing Lincoln starter, Foster Pace, Wendell Marrero reached on a one-out double.  Then, Alec Olund singled, scoring Marrero, to make it 2-1.

The Saltdogs got the run back in the top of the sixth.  Cary Arbolida led off the inning with a double.  A ground out to short by Jairo Pomares advanced Arbolida to third.  Then, Jake Hjelle hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Arbolida, to make it 3-1.

The Milkmen made it a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh.  With one out, Jeremy Rivas was hit by a pitch.  Two batters later, Alec Olund walked.  Then, Chase Waddell singled, scoring Rivas, to make it 3-2.

In the bottom of the ninth, Lincoln brought Zac McCleve in, to pitch.  He struck out the first two batters, Griffin Doersching and Jeremy Rivas, both swinging.  Then, Wendell Marrero was hit by a pitch.  With a 3-2 count, Alec Olund doubled to the right center field wall, scoring Marrero, to tie the score at 3-3.  The next batter, Carlos Linares drew a walk.  Then, Charlie Marion hit a 3-2 pitch just over the outstretched glove of a leaping Paul Myro IV at second, into right field, which scored Olund, and ended the game, 4-3 in Milwaukee’s favor.

Milwaukee starting pitcher Angelo Cabral pitched 7.0 innings, giving up three runs, off six hits, struck out nine, and walked two.  Justin Kelly pitched 1.0 inning, struck out two and walked one.  Sam Staerker (4-1) earned the win, throwing 1.0 inning, yielding two hits and struck out two.

Lincoln starter Foster Pace pitched 6.2 innings, giving up two runs, off five hits, struck out four and walked two.  Tyler Stasiowski threw 0.1 inning, inducing a ground ball out.  Ryan Rembisz pitched 1.0 inning and struck out one.  Zac McCleve (2-4) took the loss, pitching 0.2 innings, yielding two runs, off two hits, struck out two and walked one.

Offensively for the Milkmen, Alec Olund was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.  Chase Waddell was 1-for-3 and drove in one run.  Charlie Marion was 1-for-4 with the walk-off game-winning RBI single.

For the Saltdogs, Cary Arbolida was 2-for-3.  Connor Bagnieski was 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Tanner O’Tremba was 1-for-4 with one run batted in.  Griffin Everitt and Paul Myro IV were both 2-for-4.

The final game of the four-game series is Thursday.  RHP Jacob Hughes (5-3, 6.03 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Christian Young (6-4, 4.48 ERA) will be on the mound for Milwaukee.  The first pitch at Franklin Field will be 12 p.m.  The game will be broadcast 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.