LINCOLN, Nebraska – LF Zane Zurbrugg went 4-for-6 with a double and a triple, and the ‘Dogs tied a franchise record in runs scored in a 20-13 win over the Kansas City Monarchs after trailing by nine in the 4th inning at Haymarket Park on Saturday night.
Zurbrugg highlighted a historic performance in which all nine starters recorded a hit and an RBI and the ‘Dogs rallied from nine runs down to win a second consecutive game. Lincoln tied a franchise record with 20 runs scored – the third time the ‘Dogs reached 20 and first time since May 31, 2011 at Sioux Falls.
The ‘Dogs (39-39) fell behind 11-2 before scoring 18 runs over the final five innings to complete one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history.
After Kansas City (45-33) took a nine-run lead, the ‘Dogs scored three runs in the 4th on an RBI double from 3B Will Kengor, and RBI single from SS Drew Devine and an unearned run on one of four Kansas City errors in the game.
The ‘Dogs continued to chip away in the 5th inning on an RBI single from RF Connor Panas before C Luke Roskam made it 11-7 on a sacrifice fly in the 6th inning. 1B Jason Rogers made it a three-run game with an RBI double and DH Yanio Perez made it 11-9 with an RBI double in the 6th.
Kansas City got one run back on a solo homer from 3B Brian O’Grady in the top of the 7th before the ‘Dogs scored seven runs in the bottom-half to take the lead for good.
Zurbrugg drove in two with a triple before 2B Nate Samson tied the game with an RBI on an error from SS L.J. Hatch on a ground ball that would’ve scored Zurbrugg from third regardless. Rogers hit an RBI single to give Lincoln a 13-12 lead before Perez added another on an RBI single. Later in the inning, CF Nick Anderson drove in another with an RBI single and Roskam scored on an errant throw from RF Jan Hernandez.
The ‘Dogs went on to add four runs in the 8th inning. Roskam made it 17-4 on an RBI single and Rogers added run on a sacrifice fly. With two outs in the inning, Anderson hit a two-run homer – his 20th of the year – to make it 20-13.
RHP Matt Cronin earned the win and RHP Devin Conn went 1-2-3 with two strikeouts in the 9th inning.
The comeback is Lincoln’s largest this year and the teams combined for 33 runs, 40 hits and six errors.
The series concludes on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and pregame coverage begins at 12:35 on KFOR FM 101.5/1240 AM.
The Saltdogs are back in 2023! Single-game tickets for all games are on sale now. Reserve your seats now by calling 402-474-BALL (2255) or order on-line at Saltdogs.com.