WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes scored three runs in the 8th inning to win 5-3 and snap the Lincoln Saltdogs’ six-game winning streak.
The Saltdogs (8-7) tied the game 2-2 in the top of the 8th but failed to grab a lead. Ivan Marin and Brandon Jacobs singled to start the frame and bring up Cesar Valera. Valera laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by pitcher Mitchell Lambson who threw the ball wide of third base, allowing Marin to score and tie the game. The Goldeyes (11-5) intentionally walked Curt Smith to load the bases with no outs. Lambson then struck out Christian Ibarra and induced a double play from Tommy Mendonca to get out of the frame.
The Goldeyes broke the tie in the bottom of the 8th. Winnipeg strung together five straight hits against Leuris Gomez and one against Fabio Martinez to score three runs and make it 5-2.
Dashenko Ricardo started a rally in the top of the 9th with a single. Randolph Oduber followed with a double to put runners and second and third. Ricardo scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3. Winnipeg closer Ryan Chaffee then struck out pinch hitter Brent Dean and Jacobs to end the game and notch his sixth save of the season.
Gomez was charged with the loss for the Saltdogs and Lambson earned the win for the Goldeyes.
Winnipeg got on the board first in the 3rd inning. They tallied four hits off of Saltdogs starter Seth Webster to net the 2-0 lead.
Webster didn’t allow any more runs, though. The sidearm righty went six innings and gave up two runs on nine hits but did not allow an extra-base hit. He struck out two and walked one batter.
The Saltdogs scored their first run in the 6th inning. Oduber started it with a single and went to second with a Marin sacrifice bunt. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Brandon Jacobs sacrifice fly.
The Saltdogs allowed a season-high 16 hits to the Goldeyes but still limited them to five runs. Tommy Mendonca extended his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to nine games.
The Goldeyes and Saltdogs square off tomorrow afternoon in the rubber match. First pitch is at 1:05 PM and coverage begins at 12:35 PM on ESPN 1480 and saltdogs.com.
The Saltdogs next home game is Tuesday, June 6th against the Sioux Falls Canaries. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling (402) 474-2255 or visiting Saltdogs.com. For the latest information on the Saltdogs follow the team on Facebook and Twitter/Instagram @saltdogsball.