Saltdogs force Game 5
September 5, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
WICHITA, KS - The Lincoln Saltdogs stayed alive in the playoffs on Saturday, beating Wichita 3-1 in 11 innings. Lincoln ties the series at two games apiece, and forces a decisive game five on Sunday.
The Saltdogs plated both runs in the eleventh inning with two out. Josh Burrus drew a one-out walk, and one out later, Phil Hawke doubled high off the right-field wall against Wichita reliever Justin Dowdy (0-1) to score Burrus. Argelis Nuñez followed with an RBI single to score Hawke with an insurance run, and Chris Thompson pitched a perfect bottom of the eleventh to record the save for Lincoln.
The first nine innings featured an outstanding pitchers' duel between Lincoln's Justin Knoff and Wichita's Gabe Medina. Knoff allowed just two hits in his nine innings of work, walking none and striking out six. Medina gave up eight hits in nine innings, also walking none and striking out six. Wichita cracked the scoreboard first with a run in the first, on a double, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, but the Saltdogs tied it with three straight hits in the sixth, including an RBI single by Albenis Machado. Each team led off its half of the ninth with a double, but neither team could take advantage, forcing extra innings. Adam Daniels (1-0) tossed a scoreless tenth inning to earn the win for Lincoln.
Hawke ended the night 2-for-5 with two doubles and the game-winning RBI. Rafael Alvarez and Brandon Jones also had a pair of hits each for the Saltdogs, as Lincoln improved to 3-5 all-time when facing elimination in the playoffs.
Lincoln and Wichita will play a winner-take-all game five Sunday at 5:05 in Wichita, with the winner advancing to the American Association Championship Series. Righty Jarrett Gardner will make the start for the Saltdogs.
For more team information, go to www.saltdogs.com.
American Association Stories from September 5, 2009
- Pelicans edge Cats 7-6 to win series - Fort Worth Cats
- Saltdogs force Game 5 - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saltdogs force deciding game with extra inning win - Wichita Wingnuts
- Wingnuts Game Notes for September 5 - Wichita Wingnuts
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