LINCOLN — The Saltdogs (9-9) overcame a two-run deficit in the last of the ninth and a three-run margin in the 10th to come back and beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes (11-5) 11-10 on a walk-off wild pitch at Haymarket Park Monday night.
A.J. Miller stroked a two-run double to right center to make the score 10-9 in the bottom of the 10th. Two batters later, Lincoln had the bases loaded with one out before Alan Rick drew an RBI walk to tie the game at 10-10. The Saltdogs won the game on the next batter when Barrett Phillips threw a wild pitch, allowing Brad Payne to score from third.
Payne entered the game as a pinch runner in the bottom of the ninth and scored the tying run on a Rick sacrifice bunt. The Saltdogs utility man then stayed in to play left, before coming in to pitch due to an injury-ridden pitching staff.
Payne (1-0) pitched 2/3 of an inning to earn the win, and also scored the game’s tying and winning runs. Chris Kaminsky (1-1) allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning to take the loss.
Chris Roberson hit a two-run homer in the top of the first and a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh, making the score 6-5. Amos Ramon spanked a three-run shot in the top of the 10th to give Winnipeg a 10-7 lead.
Mike Provencher launched a two-run shot out to right to give the ‘Dogs a 5-3 lead in the fifth.
Miller went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI after entering the game at catcher in the seventh after John Alonso was ejected.
Winnipeg used five pitchers in the ninth and 10th innings, who only managed to record four outs while allowing five runs.
The teams meet again Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. for game two of the four-game series. Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.