Saltdogs Clinch Playoff Berth With 8-1 Win
August 30, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
SIOUX FALLS, SD - The Lincoln Saltdogs earned a playoff berth on Sunday, beating Sioux Falls 8-1. Lincoln ends the second half of the season with a 27-21 record, clinching at least a share of the American Association North title.
The Saltdogs started the scoring with a pair of second-inning runs. Argelis Nuñez walked, and Rafael Alvarez followed with a double. The throw to the infield got away for an error, scoring Nuñez and allowing Alvarez to reach third. Gavin Dickey then hit a sacrifice fly to put the Dogs ahead 2-0.
Sioux Falls got one back in the bottom of the second against Lincoln starter Justin Knoff (1-1), but the Saltdogs struck back with three runs in the third. Lincoln had two out an a runner on first, courtesy of another Canaries error, with Phil Hawke at the plate. A wild pitch moved Albenis Machado to second, and Hawke cracked an RBI single to make it 3-1. Nuñez drew another walk, and Alvarez hit his second double of the day, a two-run effort that put the Dogs ahead 5-1. Alvarez added a solo home run in the sixth to make it 6-1, Brandon Jones hit an RBI double later in the same inning, and Shawn McGill closed out the scoring with a solo homer in the eighth.
That proved to be more than enough for the Lincoln pitching staff. Knoff allowed just the one run over five innings, Tim Brown pitched three scoreless innings of relief, and Chris Thompson pitched a perfect ninth to wrap up the game and the playoff berth. Thompson got Beau Torbert to fly out to left for the final out, setting off a muted celebration by the Saltdogs on the field.
Alvarez ended the afternoon 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Hawke's RBI gave him 61 on the season, leading the Saltdogs in that category.
Lincoln opens the first round of the 2009 playoffs against Wichita Tuesday night at 7:05, at Haymarket Park. Righty Jarrett Gardner is scheduled to make the start for the Saltdogs.
Playoff tickets go on sale Monday morning at 9am, at the Haymarket Park ticket office. For more team information, go to www.saltdogs.com.
American Association Stories from August 30, 2009
- American Association Recap - AA
- Diablos Finish on High Note - El Paso Diablos
- Diablos rally for 5-4 win - Fort Worth Cats
- X's Drop Season Finale to Saints 5-3 - Sioux City Explorers
- Saints Wrap-Up 2009 Season With 5-3 Win Over X's - St. Paul Saints
- Pelicans Close Regular Season With Timely Win - Pensacola Pelicans
- Captains' season ends with shutout loss - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Playoff bound Wingnuts finish regular season - Wichita Wingnuts
- Saltdogs Clinch Playoff Berth With 8-1 Win - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Lincoln Beats Canaries To Clinch Playoff Berth - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Wichita's Porter Named Player Of The Year - AA
- Greg Porter Named American Association League MVP - Wichita Wingnuts
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