LINCOLN, NE – Brandon Jacobs knocked in seven runs and the Lincoln Saltdogs beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 13-0 to tie the best-of-five playoffs series at one win apiece.
The Saltdogs tied their season-high with 17 hits and equaled their largest margin of victory in the blowout. Jacobs’ seven RBIs were the most by a Saltdogs player in one game this season.
Derek Gordon earned the win by shutting down the Goldeyes. The Lincoln native pitched seven scoreless innings and surrendered just four hits. He struck out eight hitters compared to one walk.
The Saltdogs jumped on the board with a big first inning. Goldeyes’ starter Mikey O’Brien walked the first two batters he faced before Cesar Valera got a single to load the bases. Curt Smith walked in the first run then Randolph Oduber knocked in another on a fielder’s choice. Next, Brandon Jacobs collected a two-out double to knock in two more runs. Brent Dean followed with another double to score Jacobs and make it 5-0.
Lincoln brought the offense to the second inning too. Five straight batters reached base with two-outs to score five runs. The inning was capped by a Jacobs grand slam to put the Saltdogs in front by double digits.
They continued to pour it on in the third inning. Christian Ibarra and Valera singled to bring up Curt Smith with two outs. Smith doubled to the right-center field gap to make it 12-0.
Meanwhile, Gordon was flawless. He retired the first 11 batters he faced and limited the best offense in the league to just six runners on base over seven innings.
The Saltdogs added another run in the bottom of the eighth. Oduber doubled and Jacobs hit him in with a single to complete the scoring.
Parker Frazier pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the Saltdogs.
Thursday’s win for the Saltdogs first postseason victory since winning game five of the divisional series against the Goldeyes in 2014.
The final three games of the series will be played at Shaw Park in Winnipeg. After a travel day, the Saltdogs will toss lefty Bennett Parry against the Goldeyes’ Charle Rosario.
First pitch on Saturday is at 6:05 PM with coverage beginning at 5:35 PM on ESPN 1480 and saltdogs.com.
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