Saltdogs Take Series While Phelts Ties Record

Lincoln, Nebraska- Sunday afternoon, the Lincoln Saltdogs defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes, 8-3, at Haymarket Park.  With the victory, Lincoln took the series from Winnipeg, two games to one, plus won their second series of the week. Jairo Pomares and Cary Arbolida homered for the Saltdogs.  Lincoln outfielder Cam Phelts stole his 41^st base of the season, which ties the franchise record for single season stolen bases set by Dustin Delucchi in the 2002 season.  Noah Marcelo homered for the Goldeyes, in the loss.

Lincoln (33-41) scored eight runs, off ten hits, with no errors, and left nine runners on base.  Winnipeg (40-33) had three runs, with five hits, no errors, and left six runners aboard.  Sunday’s game lasted two hours and fifty-two minutes and was played in front of 2,525 fans.

The Saltdogs took the lead in the bottom of the second.  Facing Goldeyes starter Luke Boyd, Cary Arbolida led off by getting hit by a pitch.  Two batters later, Jake Hjelle singled to left.  Then, Calyn Halvorson singled to right, scoring Arbolida, to make it 1-0.

In the bottom of the third, Lincoln extended the lead.  With one out, Jairo Pomares hit a solo home run to right field.  His 12^th homer of the season made it 2-0.  Then, two batters later, Cary Arbolida hit a solo home run to right field.  His tenth long ball of the year made it a 3-0 Lincoln lead.

With a three-run cushion, the Saltdogs added on in the bottom of the fifth.  Nick Shumpert led off the inning with a double.  Then, Jairo Pomares drew a walk, as did Connor Bagnieski.  Winnipeg went to the bullpen and brought in Arij Fransen to pitch.  The next batter, Cary Arbolida, hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Shumpert, to make it 4-0.  Two batters later, Jake Hjelle drove home Jairo Pomares with a sacrifice fly to left, to make it a 5-0 Saltdogs lead.

Lincoln added another run in the bottom of the sixth.  With one out, Cam Phelts drew a walk, then stole his record-tying base, taking second.  Two batters later, Jairo Pomares drove in Phelts with an RBI double, to make it 6-0.

Winnipeg got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning.  Facing Lincoln starter Jacob Hughes, Raphael Pelletier drew a walk.  Lincoln went to the bullpen and brought Tyler Stasiowski in, to pitch.  After a Max Murphy ground out to third advanced Pelletier to second, Jiondido Tromp hit an RBI double to left, making the score, 6-1.  Two batters later, Ray-Patrick Didder singled, scoring Tromp, to make it 6-2.

In the top of the eighth, facing Lincoln reliever Gabriel Jaramillo, Noah Marcelo hit a two-run home run to right field, making the score 6-3.

However, the Saltdogs added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, to seal the victory.  Facing reliever Willian Suarez, Calyn Halvorson drew a walk.  Then, Jacob Morrow singled.  The next batter, Cam Phelts walked, to load the bases.  Then, Nick Shumpert singled, driving home Halvorson and Morrow, to make it 8-3, which turned out to be the final score.

Lincoln starter Jacob Hughes (4-2) earned the victory, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up one run, off two hits, struck out seven and walked four.  Tyler Stasiowski worked 1.0 inning, yielding one run, off two hits and struck out one.  Gabriel Jaramillo pitched 1.0 inning, surrendering one run, off one hit and struck out two.  Zac McCleve pitched 1.0 inning and struck out one.

Winnipeg starting pitcher Luke Boyd (8-4) took the loss, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up five runs, off seven hits, struck out two and walked three.  Arij Fransen worked 1.2 innings, yielding one run, off one hit, struck out one and walked one.  Sage Ferguson pitched 1.1 innings and struck out one.  Willian Suarez pitched 1.0 inning surrendering two runs, off two hits, struck out one and walked two.

Offensively for the Saltdogs, Nick Shumpert was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.  Jairo Pomares went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs batted in.  Cary Arbolida was 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBIs.  Jake Hjelle was 2-for-3 and drove in one run.  Calyn Halvorson went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

For the Goldeyes, Ray-Patrick Didder was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Noah Marcelo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run.  Jiondido Tromp was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Lincoln has an off-day, Monday, then will begin a three-game series at the Kane County Cougars beginning, Tuesday night.  RHP Graham Edwards (2-8, 8.23 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  Kane County has not announced their starter, yet.  First pitch at Northwestern Medicine Field, in Geneva, Illinois, will be 6:30 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

The next home game for the Saltdogs will be Friday, August 14^th, when they host the Kane County Cougars at Haymarket Park, at 7:05 p.m.  That game will be FREE T-SHIRT FRIDAY! sponsored by Abante Marketing.  It is also Military Appreciation Night sponsored by Budweiser & Folds of Honor.  Plus, there will be Post-Game Fireworks.  For tickets, merchandise and more information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.