Wingnuts Sneak Past Saltdogs In Extras Again
August 25, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
WICHITA, KS - The Lincoln Saltdogs lost their second extra-inning game in as many nights Tuesday, falling 3-2 in 12 innings to the Wichita Wingnuts. Lincoln drops to 25-18 on the second half of the season.
Lincoln came within a whisker of sending the game to the 13th inning before disaster struck. Michael Thompson doubled to the off the inning and took third on a sacrifice bunt, but Forrest Cory (1-1) induced a groundout to second for the second out of the inning. With an 0-1 count to the next hitter, however, Cory threw a wild pitch, allowing the winning run to score.
The game started out as a great pitchers' duel between Lincoln's Justin Knoff and Wichita's Will Savage. Knoff allowed just one run on 5 hits in 7.2 innings pitched, while Savage gave up just one run in nine innings despite allowing 12 hits. The Saltdogs scored a run in the fourth on a fielding error by Savage, but the Wingnuts tied it the eighth on a two-out RBI double.
Lincoln took the lead in the tenth after a wild sequence. With runners on first and second and one out, Shawn McGill singled to center, but Phil Hawke was ruled out at home on a close play. The runners behind him moved to second and third, and Wichita decided to intentionally walk Gavin Dickey. Joe d'Alessandro's first intentional ball sailed high to the backstop, however, bringing Rafael Alvarez home and giving Lincoln a 2-1 lead. Wichita wasn't done, though, tying the game in the bottom of the tenth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, denying Chris Thompson what would have been a league-record 31st save.
Josh Burrus snapped out of his slump for Lincoln, going 3-for-5 and picking up his 34th stolen base of the season. Hawke, McGill and Argelis Nuñez each had two hits apiece for the Saltdogs as well, but Lincoln left 12 men on base. Lincoln's lead over Wichita in the North Division now sits at 1.5 games, with St. Paul three games back.
The Saltdogs will try to salvage the finale of the three-game series Wednesday night at 7:05. Righty Jarrett Gardner will make the start for Lincoln.
American Association Stories from August 25, 2009
- Wingnuts Sneak Past Saltdogs In Extras Again - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Explorers Clinch I-29 Series with 8-0 Win - Sioux City Explorers
- 'Nuts nip 'Dogs in extra innings again - Wichita Wingnuts
- El Paso Falls Short - El Paso Diablos
- Saints Hold On for 3-2 Victory Over AirHogs - St. Paul Saints
- Pelicans stifle Cats again 3-1 - Fort Worth Cats
- Nelson Blasts Explorers To I-29 Trophy - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Explorers Fall 4-1 - Sioux City Explorers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
