Lincoln bats fall silent as X's win series
Published on June 22, 2008 under American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
LINCOLN, NE - The Lincoln Saltdogs never got the bats warmed up on Sunday, falling 9-2 to Sioux City at Haymarket Park. The X's took two out of three from Lincoln in the series.
Lincoln starter Ryan Dittfurth (3-4) struggled with his location all night, but pitched out of jams in the first two innings before Sioux City plated an unearned run in the third. The Explorers would break the game open in the fifth inning, though, after loading the bases with one out. Dittfurth got the second out on a foul popup, but Chad Gabriel followed with a blast over the left-field wall for a grand slam and a 5-0 lead.
The Saltdogs did answer back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Shea McFeely singled, Luis Perez doubled, and both men came home on an RBI groundout by Shawn McGill and a sacrifice fly from Corey Harrington. Lincoln only managed five hits on the night, however, as Sioux City starter Cameron Cheek (2-1) pitched his best outing of the season. Sioux City would answer the Dogs' fifth-inning rally with a run of their own in the sixth, then put the game away with a three-run homer in the ninth off the bat of Anton French.
McFeely ended the night 2-for-4 with a run scored, and also made a nice defensive play in the fifth when he caught a foul popup while running full-speed into the wall beyond the third-base dugout. Mario Delgado singled in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to eight games, but Jonny Kaplan's ten-game hitting streak came to an end.
Before the game, the Saltdogs honored former team captain Bryan Warner, who retired at the end of the 2007 season after seven seasons in a Lincoln uniform. Warner was honored with a video tribute, and he received a commemorative plaque after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Saltdogs travel to St. Paul on Monday, to open a three-game series against the Saints. Jarrett Gardner is scheduled to make the start for Lincoln, while Justin Lord is expected to start for St. Paul.
American Association Stories from June 22, 2008
- AirHogs Win Sixth Straight In Twelve Innings - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Gabriel's Grand Slam keys a 9-2 X's win at Lincoln - Sioux City Explorers
- Lincoln bats fall silent as X's win series - Lincoln Saltdogs
- El Paso takes season finale - Wichita Wingnuts
- The Diablos outlast the Wingnuts 5-2 - El Paso Diablos
- Saints Week Ends With Another Blown Lead, Lose 10-9 - St. Paul Saints
- Canaries Rally and Hold on to Beat Saints, 10-9 - Sioux Falls Canaries
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