The Lincoln Saltdogs entered Saturday’s game against the Wichita Wingnuts in the throes of a nine-game losing streak. The team had been snake bit, finding different ways to extend the streak. Saturday night looked no different as the club fell behind early, but Jeremy Hamilton was going to see this streak come to an end, and five RBI later by Saltdogs first baseman it was over.

In the top of the first the Wingnuts jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Luis Chirinos. Wichita loaded the bases without making contact with the ball, at least not with their bats. Jayce Ray and Alberto Gonzalez were issued the free pass, and David Espinosa was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Newly acquired Matt Padgett grounded into the 3-2-3 double-play, leaving runners at second and third, but with two outs now. That brought John Nester to the plate who delivered a clutch single on an 0-2 pitch, scoring both runners.

Charlie Lowell started for the Wichita Wingnuts and got himself in a bit of trouble in first, giving up a lead-off double to Eddie Young and hitting CJ Zeigler with two outs, but he managed to get out of it unscathed. In the second he did not get so lucky. Mitch Canham singled to start the inning, and Matt Forgatch was hit by a pitch to make it first and second with no one out. Ryan Lashley hit into the 6-4-3 double-play, leaving Canham at third, and it looked like Lowell would get out of another jam early. However, Hamilton had other plans, singling to score the runner and it was 2-1 Wichita.

In the bottom of the third the Lincoln Saltdogs got to Lowell in a big way. Jon Gaston led off with a single, and Ziegler followed by blasting his second home run of the season to give the Saltdogs the lead. Next up was Curt Smith, who walked and stole second base. Forgatch and Lashley drew walks as well to load the bases, bringing Hamilton to the plate again. While there was only one out, he still came up big again, singling to score Smith and Forgatch. That made it 5-2 Lincoln.

In the fifth the Lincoln Saltdogs would extend their lead, and it was the one man wrecking crew that is Jeremy Hamilton that came through again. Canham was hit by Lowell to start the inning. Forgatch followed with a walk before Lashley flew out. Hamilton was the next batter, and on a 2-1 pitch he lined a double into the gap to score both Canham and Forgatch to make it 7-2. That would be it for Lowell (0-1).

The left-hander left after 4.1 innings pitched. He allowed 7 hits, 5 walks and 7 runs to score. He also struck out 4 and threw 113 pitches. The newly acquired Byron Minnich came in to finish out the inning and, after issuing a walk, got a double-play ball to end the threat.

In the bottom of the sixth Lincoln scored two more. Jon Gaston singled to being the inning and three batters later Canham swatted his second home run of the season to make it 9-2.

While Hamilton and his co-horts were putting up big numbers, Chirnos (2-1) was silencing the Wingnuts’ bats. After giving up the two runs in the first, he allowed just a one out single in the third over the next four innings. The right-hander was pulled after five innings. He allowed 3 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs, while striking out 3.

Down 9-2 the Wichita Winguts battled back, because that is what they do. In the seventh, Brent Dean began the inning with a single and scored three batters later on a fielder’s choice by Jayce Ray. In the ninth it was Ray again, delivering a two-run single to cut the deficit to four. That put runners on second and third with just one out, and manager Ken Oberkfell turned to Zach Arneson to close it out. The right-hander retired the final two batters for his second save of the season and the Lincoln Saltdogs were 9-5 winners.

Hamilton finished the day 3-4 with 5 RBI. Canham also had a big day, going 2-4 with 3 runs and 2 RBI. Nester and Dean had 2 RBI apiece for the Wingnuts.

Boxscore Provided by the American Association

By Robert Pannier