Lincoln blows big lead but wins in 11
Published on August 3, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
EL PASO, TX - The Lincoln Saltdogs blew a five-run lead in the ninth inning on Monday, but rallied to win 9-6 in 11 innings over the El Paso Diablos. Lincoln improves to 14-9 on the second half of the season.
The Saltdogs scored the decisive runs in the 11th inning against El Paso reliever Mike Cervera (1-1), who began the season on Lincoln's inactive list, and was traded to El Paso for Chris Thompson in mid-June. Shea McFeely led off with a single, and when Brandon Jones tries to bunt him over, the throw to second was not in time and both men were safe. Josh Burrus followed with an RBI double, and a second run scored when El Paso threw the ball away. Burrus would score on a sacrifice fly by Albenis Machado to set the final margin, and Thompson struck out the side in the bottom half of the inning to earn his 25th save.
Before the ninth inning, Jarrett Gardner was pitching another gem for the Saltdogs, allowing just an unearned run on one hit through the first eight innings. In the ninth, however, Gardner was charged with five runs on six hits. A two-run triple by Hector Bernal chased Gardner and made the score 6-5. Matt Petrusek (1-0) came on to try and end it, but the tying run scored on a controversial play at first where Petrusek was ruled not to have touched the bag while covering first on a ground ball.
Lincoln scored its first run in the third inning on an RBI triple by Gavin Dickey, added a run in the sixth on Steve Alexander's RBI groundout, and then appeared to break the game open with three runs in the seventh. McFeely and Machado hit RBI singles, and Phil Hawke added an RBI double in the frame. Dickey added an RBI single in the eighth, which proved to be a very important run.
Dickey ended the night 4-for-5 with two RBI. Burrus went 3-for-6 with a RBI and two runs scored, while Hawke, McFeely and Jones all had two hits apiece for Lincoln. Petrusek pitched a scoreless inning and a third, striking out two to earn his first win.
The two teams play game two of their three-game series Tuesday night at 8:05 Central Time. Righty Brian Campbell will make the start for Lincoln.
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