Everything sure looked like it was going to go Lincoln’s way. They scored four runs in the first inning against Goldeyes starter Chris Salamida, and it looked like the Saltdogs were going to be barking up a storm. Winnipeg had much different plans however, as they rallied to take Game 1 of this series, 6-4.

From the outset it looked like this was not going to be Salamida’s night. Chad Mozingo led off with a single, and after Luis Nunez hit into a fielder’s choice, Matt Forgatch walked to put Nunez at second. That brought slugger Ian Gac to the plate who doubled, driving Nunez home and putting the Saltdogs up 1-0. Brian Joynt then singled into left field to score Forgatch. Jeremy Hamilton then took the first pitch he saw from the Winnipeg lefty and singled up the middle, scoring Gac and sending Joynt to second.  After Brandon Pinckney flew out to right field, Mike Gilmartin singled home Joynt and it was 4-0.

The Saltdogs could not have possibility asked for a better start to the game, especially after Lincoln starter Joe Bisenius shutdown the Goldeyes in the bottom half of the first. This gave Lincoln a real shot at winning the first game in Winnipeg, and with the last three games of the series to be played in Nebraska, this had to lift the team’s spirits greatly. Unfortunately it would not be long before they were crushed.

In the bottom of the second it was time for the Goldeyes to start their comeback. Reggie Abercrombie led off with a single, and after stealing second base, Donnie Webb was walked. One out later Luis Alen drew a walk as well, and the bases were loaded for Ryan Pineda. He worked the count to 2-2 before grounding out to first base, but Abercrombie scored on the play, cutting the Goldeyes deficit to three.

In the third they would battle back to tie the game. Jake Blackwood led off the inning with a single. Bisenius then retired the next two batters, but Abercrombie tripled to cut the deficit to two. Donnie Webb then followed with a blast over the fence to tie the score at 4. For Webb it was his only hit of the night. It was not that he didn’t produce his other times at-bat. It was simply that Lincoln wanted nothing to do with him as he walked three times to go along with his two-run home run.

The score remained tied through the fourth, but in the fifth the Goldeyes got their first lead of the game. Tyler Kuhn singled to lead off the inning but was thrown out trying to steal second. Casey Haerther then walked and Abercrombie recorded his third hit of the game, a single that sent Haerther to third. Webb walked to load the bases and a rally was in the making. Josh Mazzola then hit a ball that had double play written all over it. Gilmartin threw to Nunez for the first out, but Nunez’s throw to first was wild. Both Haerther and Abercrombie scored, and the Goldeyes had the 6-4 lead.

Meanwhile, after a rough first inning, Salamida took control. He kept the Saltdogs off the board over the next seven innings, allowing just five hits while striking out 10. He was in complete control and ensured that his team was able to rally to gain the victory. Brendan Lafferty recorded the save in the ninth, with a little drama, as he put runners at first and second with two outs, but got Joynt to ground out to end the game.

While the first four hitters gain a great deal of attention for their play, it was the backend of the lineup that was the key this night. The 5-9 hitters scored four runs and had all six RBI.  Abercrombie led the way, scoring three runs and knocking in a fourth to go along with his three hits. It was a masterful team effort that has placed Winnipeg up 1-0 in the best-of-five series.

The series continues tonight as Lincoln ace Marquis Fleming heads to the mound against Ethan Hollingsworth.

By Robert Pannier
Senior Baseball Editor
Member of the IBWAA

Game Date: 09/03/2014
Lincoln Saltdogs  4 AT Winnipeg Goldeyes  6

                                 YTD                                   YTD
Lincoln            AB  R  H BI   AVG  Winnipeg           AB  R  H BI   AVG
C.Mozingo DH        5  0  2  0  .400  B.Bond 2B           5  0  2  0  .400
L.Nunez 2B          5  1  1  0  .200  J.Blackwood 3B      5  1  2  0  .400
M.Forgatch CF       4  1  2  0  .500  T.Kuhn SS           5  0  3  0  .600
I.Gac 1B            4  1  1  1  .250  C.Haerther 1B       4  1  0  0  .000
B.Joynt RF          5  1  2  1  .400  R. Abercrombie CF   4  3  3  1  .750
J.Hamilton LF       4  0  2  0  .500  D.Webb LF           1  1  1  2 1.000
B.Pinckney 3B       4  0  0  0  .000  J.Mazzola RF        4  0  0  1  .000
M.Gilmartin SS      4  0  2  1  .500  L.Alen C            3  0  1  1  .333
T.Smith C           4  0  0  0  .000  R.Pineda DH         4  0  0  1  .000
                   39  4 12  3                           35  6 12  6

Lincoln              4 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 -  4 12  1
Winnipeg             0 1 3   0 2 0   0 0 x -  6 12  1
2B--C.Mozingo (1), I.Gac (1), B.Bond (1), J.Blackwood (1). 3B--B.Bond (1),
R. Abercrombie (1). HR--D.Webb (1). RBI--I.Gac (1), B.Joynt (1),
M.Gilmartin (1), R. Abercrombie (1), D.Webb  2 (2), J.Mazzola (1), L.Alen
(1), R.Pineda (1). SB--R. Abercrombie 3 (3), D.Webb (1). CS--T.Kuhn (1).
E--L.Nunez (1), T.Kuhn (1). 
LOB--Lincoln 10, Winnipeg 10. DP--B. Bond(2B) - T. Kuhn(SS) - C.
Haerther(1B). 
                                                                YTD
                                 IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR     ERA
 Lincoln
J.Bisenius (L,0-1)              6.0  11   6   6   4   7   1    9.00
J.Montoya                       1.0   0   0   0   1   1   0    0.00
T.Barham                        1.0   1   0   0   0   1   0    0.00
                                8    12   6   6   5   9   1
 Winnipeg
C.Salamida (W,1-0)              8.0  10   4   4   2  10   0    4.50
B.Lafferty (S,1)                1.0   2   0   0   0   1   0    0.00
                                9    12   4   4   2  11   0
WP--J.Bisenius (1). SO--M.Forgatch 2, I.Gac 3, B.Joynt, J.Hamilton,
M.Gilmartin, T.Smith 3, B.Bond, J.Blackwood, C.Haerther, R. Abercrombie,
J.Mazzola, L.Alen, R.Pineda 3. BB--M.Forgatch, I.Gac, C.Haerther, D.Webb 3,
L.Alen. BF--J.Bisenius 32 (32), J.Montoya 4 (4), T.Barham 4 (4), C.Salamida
36 (36), B.Lafferty 5 (5). P-S--J.Bisenius 129-80, J.Montoya 21-11,
T.Barham 19-11, C.Salamida 133-88, B.Lafferty 18-12. 
T--3:32.  A--4013

Weather: Cloudy, 18C, Wind NE 22 KPH
Plate Umpire - Art Thigpen, Field Umpire #1 - Sam Burch, Field Umpire #2 - Marty Bauer, Field Umpire #3 - Joe Stegner