AA Lincoln Saltdogs

Saltdogs outslug St. Paul

Published on May 20, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The Lincoln Saltdogs outlasted the St. Paul Saints Wednesday afternoon, slugging five home runs and hanging on for a 10-7 victory at Midway Stadium. The win improves Lincoln's record to 3-3 on the season.

Steve Alexander and Phil Hawke each hit a pair of home runs for Lincoln, including back-to-back shots in a four-run fifth inning. Matt Maloney added a solo shot, his third of the season. The Saltdogs came within one homer of the team record for longballs in a game, which they set on August 20th of last year in St. Paul.

The game was played in sometimes-extreme conditions, with the wind consistently blowing out to left at over 30 miles per hour, with frequent gusts well in excess of 40 miles per hour. Hitters often had to call time at the plate as dust blew into their faces, and infielders found themselves chasing their caps as they blew into the outfield. Each team committed three errors, most of which could be blamed on the conditions. In addition, Midway Stadium lost all power in the top of the first, and the game was played without use of the scoreboard, public address system or anything else electric until the end of the third inning.

Alexander's first home run came in the first inning, a two-run shot that set the tone for a wild game. Hawke's first longball was a solo blast that put Lincoln up 3-1 in the third, but St. Paul tied the game in the bottom of the third when Chris Herbert hit a two-run homer in his first professional at-bat.

The Saltdogs appeared to break the game open in the fifth when Hawke hit his second homer, a three-run blast that broke the tie. Alexander followed with a solo shot to chase Saints starter Adam Cox (0-1). St. Paul got one back in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-4, and each team scored once in the sixth to set the score at 8-5.

The Saints then closed to within one with a pair of runs in the seventh, but Maloney shook off strikeouts in his first three at-bats to homer in the top of the eighth. Alexander tacked on an RBI single in the ninth to set the final margin, although Lincoln Carlos Guevara loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the ninth before striking out pinch-hitter Andrew Schmiesing to earn his third save.

Adam Daniels (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Saltdogs, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits in two innings of work. Lincoln starter Vince Davis came one out short of qualifying for the win, tossing 4.2 innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out six.

Offensively, Hawke finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI, while Alexander went 3-for-5 with four driven in as well. Ernesto Gonzalez had a pair of doubles and two runs scored, and Albenis Machado chipped in two walks, two runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI.

Lincoln goes for the sweep over St. Paul Thursday night at 7:05pm. Brian Campbell is expected to make the start for the Saltdogs.

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American Association Stories from May 20, 2009


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