LINCOLN — The Saltdogs are heading to the American Association Championship Series thanks to a masterful six-hit, 11-strikeout shutout from Joe Bisenius in a 2-0 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes in front of 2,284 fans at Haymarket Park Monday night.
Bisenius (1-1) pitched all nine, walking just one, with a low-to-mid-90’s fastball, a cutter and a devastating “spiked” curveball, to advance the ‘Dogs to the championship round for the first time since 2009 (when they won their first title).
Following a Chad Mozingo single and Luis Nunez third-inning double, Matt Forgatch hit a sacrifice fly to give Lincoln a 1-0 lead.
Ian Gac then smoked a RBI double down the left field line to make it 2-0 Saltdogs.
Chris Salamida (1-1) was terrific in a losing effort for Winnipeg, pitching 6 2/3 innings, while allowing just two runs to suffer the loss.
Jeremy Hamilton, who finished the regular season on a six-game hit streak, continued his hot-hitting ways with a 2-for-3 effort to finish the division series with a .526 batting average.
The Saltdogs overcame a two-to-one series deficit to come back and win the division series, which they had to do against Wichita in 2009.
Lincoln hosts games one and two of the American Association Championship Series against the Wichita Wingnuts, who set a league record with 73 wins and dispatched the Laredo Lemurs in four games.
Lincoln went 4-5 against Wichita in the regular season, winning four of six at Haymarket Park.
The championship series begins Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. Radio coverage starts at 6:05 p.m. with “At the Ballpark” and “The Obie Show” on KFOR 1240.