Franklin, Wisconsin- Jairo Pomares hit a three-run home run in the top of the tenth inning and the Lincoln Saltdogs held on to defeat the Milwaukee Milkmen, 7-4, in ten innings, Tuesday night at Franklin Field.  With the victory, Lincoln evened up the four-game midweek series with Milwaukee at one game apiece.

Lincoln (39-49) scored seven runs, off eight hits, with no errors, and left five runners on base.  Milwaukee (52-36) had four runs, with seven hits, no runs, and left five runners aboard.  Tuesday night’s game lasted two hours and forty-six minutes and was played in front of 1,064 fans.

The Saltdogs started the scoring in the top of the fourth inning.  Facing Milwaukee starter Cody Templeton, Jairo Pomares led off the inning with a single.  Then, Jake Hjelle doubled, to put runners at second and third.  The next batter, Connor Bagnieski, grounded out to shortstop, scoring Pomares, to make it 1-0.  Then, Tanner O’Tremba hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hjelle, to make it a 2-0 Lincoln lead.

In the top of the fifth, Lincoln added to its advantage.  With two outs, Nick Shumpert doubled.  Then, Cary Arbolida singled, putting runners at second and third.  The next batter, Jairo Pomares hit a scorcher off the leg of pitcher Cody Templeton, which ricochet into left field, scoring Shumpert, to make it 3-0.  Then, Jake Hjelle singled, bringing home Arbolida, to make it a 4-0 Lincoln lead.

Milwaukee tied the game in the bottom of the fifth.  Facing Lincoln starter Cael Chatham, Alec Olund hit a one-out single.  Carlos Linarez singled.  Then, Charlie Marion delivered a base hit, scoring Olund, to make it 4-1.  The next batter, Yordys Valdez doubled, driving in Linarez, to make it 4-2.  Delvin Perez hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Marion, to make it a 4-3 game.  Then, a passed ball brought in Valdez, to tie the score at 4-4.

The game remained tied through regulation, thus forcing extra innings.  In the top of the tenth, with Paul Myro IV as the placed runner at second, facing Milwaukee closer Ryan Boyer, Nick Shumpert attempted to bunt, but popped out to Jeremy Rivas at third base, for the first out.  Then, Cary Arbolida drew a walk.  The next batter, Jairo Pomares, hit a 95-mph fastball the opposite way to left field, which hit the recessed chain link above the top of the left field wall for a three-run home run, to put the Saltdogs up, 7-4.

In the bottom of the tenth, facing, Lincoln reliever Gabriel Jaramillo, Carlos Linarez was the placed runner at second.  Charlie Marion struck out looking for the first out.  Then, Yordys Valdez grounded out to first, for the second out, and advanced Linarez to third.  Jaramillo struck out Delvin Perez, swinging, to end the game.

Lincoln starting pitcher Cael Chatham pitched 5.0 innings, giving up four runs, off four hits, struck out one and walked four.  Jack Hill worked 1.0 inning, yielding one hit and struck out one.  Tyler Stasiowski threw 1.0 inning and struck out two.  Zac McCleve (2-3) earned the win, pitching 2.0 innings and gave up two hits.  Gabriel Jarmillo (1) earned the save, throwing 1.0 inning and struck out two.

Milwaukee starter Cody Templeton pitched 4.2 innings, giving up four runs, off seven hits and struck out two.  Packy Bradley-Cooney, making his professional debut, threw 0.1 inning, struck out one and walked one.  Hunter Bryan pitched 0.2 innings and struck out one.  Matt Givin threw 1.0 inning and struck out one.  Brady Puckett pitched 1.0 inning and struck out two.  Ryan Boyer (3-4) took the loss, pitching 2.0 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, off one hit, struck out two and walked one.

Offensively for the Saltdogs, Jairo Pomares was 4-for-5 with a three-run home run and four runs batted in.  Jake Hjelle was 2-for-5 with an RBI.  Connor Bagnieski was 0-for-5 and drove in one run.  Tanner O’Tremba was 0-for-3 with one RBI.

For the Milkmen, Yordys Valdez was 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Delvin Perez was 1-for-4 with one run batted in.  Alec Olund was 2-for-4.  Charlie Marion went 1-for-4 with one RBI.

Game three of the four-game series is Wednesday night.  RHP Foster Pace (3-4, 6.09 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Angelo Cabral (0-1, 5.29 ERA) will be on the mound for Milwaukee.  The first pitch will be 6:30 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

The Saltdogs will return home for their final homestand of the regular season, beginning Friday night, versus the Kansas City Monarchs, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.  Friday night’s game is FREE T-SHIRT FRIDAY! sponsored by Abante Marketing. Plus, a T-Shirt Giveaway sponsored by Sandhills Global. Also, there will be Post-Game Fireworks sponsored by Sandhills Global.  For tickets, merchandise and more information visit: www.saltdogs.com.