Saltdogs sweep twin bill
Published on July 8, 2008 under American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
LINCOLN, NE- The Lincoln Saltdogs swept a doubleheader from Sioux City on Tuesday, winning by scores of 4-1 and 4-3 at Haymarket Park. The sweep moves Lincoln from last place to first place in the North Division of the American Association.
Lincoln starter Jarrett Gardner (5-3) controlled game one from start to finish, tossing a seven-inning complete game and allowing just one run on six hits. Sioux City scored its only run in the second inning, but the Saltdogs roared back with four runs in the fourth against X's starter Dusty Bergman (0-11). Nine men batted in the frame, with Jonny Kaplan, Curt Miaso, Eduardo Rios and Dustin Yount all providing RBIs. Yount, Kaplan, Shea McFeely and Skip Adams all had two hits apiece for Lincoln, giving Gardner all the support he needed.
Sioux City, however, would make things tougher in game two. A two-out, two-run error in the top of the second inning gave the Explorers an early lead, but Lincoln would again have an answer. They loaded the bases with two out, bringing up Kaplan, who drove a full-count pitch off the wall in right-center for a three-run double.
Saltdogs starter Ryan Dittfurth carried that lead into the seventh-scheduled to be the final frame in both games of the doubleheader-but departed after a hits batsman and a sacrifice bunt. Benny Cepeda came in to close things out, but he walked three batters, including a four-pitch walk to Alex Llanos that tied the game at three. Vince Davis (2-2) came on to get the final out with the bases loaded, but Lincoln went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.
Davis pitched around a leadoff error in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for heroics in the bottom half. Rios led off with a single off Explorers reliever Ty Marotz (1-3). Shawn McGill pinch-ran for Rios, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Maloney. McFeely singled to left, putting runners at first and third for Joe Dempsey. On the first pitch, McGill broke for home and Dempsey laid down a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring the winning run and setting off a Saltdogs celebration in the infield.
Lincoln took the field on Tuesday after learning of a pair of changes to the coaching staff. Manager Tim Johnson announced on Tuesday that he would take a medical leave of absence, naming pitching coach Jim Haller as the acting manager. Also, hitting coach Pete LaCock resigned from the team for personal reasons. LaCock had also been the third base coach, a position that has now been taken over by Mike Workman.
The Saltdogs and Explorers play game three of their four-game series Wednesday night at 7:05. Ryan Trytten is scheduled to make the start for Lincoln.
American Association Stories from July 8, 2008
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- American Association recap-- July 8 - AA
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