Lincoln Blasts Pensacola, Sits One Win Away From Title
September 11, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
PENSACOLA, FL - The Lincoln Saltdogs moved to within one win of a championship on Friday, beating Pensacola 14-7. Lincoln leads the best-of-five American Association Championship Series two games to one.
The Saltdogs got the offense going early, scoring three runs in the first two innings against Pelicans starter Aaron Jackson (1-1). Phil Hawke and Rafael Alvarez each drove in a run in the first, and Josh Burrus hit the first of his two RBI doubles in the second. Pensacola cut the lead to 3-1 in the third inning, but Lincoln cranked up the offense again in the fifth when Alvarez hit a two-run home run, his second of the series.
Lincoln extended the lead in the sixth on Burrus' second RBI double, and plated two more in the seventh on an RBI double by Gavin Dickey and a run-scoring single for Brandon Jones. That proved to be enough for Saltdogs starter Justin Knoff (1-0), who allowed just one run in his first six innings of work. Pensacola chased him with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, making the score 8-3, and then mounted their most serious threat in the eighth. The Pelicans scored two more runs to make it 8-5, and had the bases loaded with two out, but Matt Petrusek got Lou Palmisano to fly out to left and end the threat.
The Saltdogs then put the game away for good with six runs in the top of the ninth. Hawke, Dickey, Jones and Argelis Nuñez all had RBI in the inning. Pensacola scored two more runs in the bottom of the ninth to set the final margin.
Alvarez, who played 50 games with Pensacola this season before being released in July, ended the night 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, two walks and a run scored for Lincoln. Jones went 4-for-6 with two RBI, while Burrus, Hawke, Dickey and Shea McFeely all had two hits apiece for the Saltdogs, in a game that lasted four hours and 21 minutes.
Lincoln plays Game Four of the American Association Championship Series Saturday night at 7:05, with a chance to clinch its first-ever title. Righty Jarrett Gardner will make the start for the Saltdogs.
American Association Stories from September 11, 2009
- September 11 Recap - AA
- Lincoln Blasts Pensacola, Sits One Win Away From Title - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Miller Lite to sponsor Captains football tour - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- New Mutli-Use Stadium and Park Ground Breaking September 17 - Pensacola Pelicans
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