LINCOLN SALTDOGS GAME REPORT
Sunday, July 16, 2006 @ Haymarket Park, Lincoln, Neb.

Final Score
Sioux City (22-38) 001 000 111 4 – 10 – 2 / 7 LOB
Lincoln (36-24) 401 002 01x 8 – 11 – 0 / 6LOB
WP—Ben Fox (6-2)
LP—Aaron Garrison (4-4)
SV—None
HR—Chris Hall, SF (2)
Time: 2:22
Attendance: 3,722

SALTDOGS BEAT THE HEAT AND SIOUX FALLS SUNDAY AT HAYMARKET PARK

A hot day at Haymarket Park had a happy ending for the Lincoln Saltdogs who beat Sioux Falls, 8-4, in the finale of their three-game series on Sunday. The victory gave the Dogs a win in the series and improved their second half record to 5-7 after an 0-5 start.

With temperatures exceeding 100-degrees, Lincoln got off to a hot start scoring four runs in the bottom of the first that effectively demoralized the Canaries for the rest of the day. Evan Tartaglia got the inning under way with a double to shallow right center and Pichi Balet followed with an infield single. The Dogs got their first run on a base hit by Bryan Warner and Cory Harris loaded the bases with a bunt single up the third baseline. With Josh Patton at the plate, Sioux Falls pitcher Aaron Garrison threw a wild pitch that allowed Balet to score from third and Warner from second when catcher David Hoffman threw wide of the plate and into the Saltdogs’ dugout. Harris moved to third on the play and then scored on Patton’s groundout to second. Five batters into the game it was 4-0 Lincoln.

Sioux Falls loaded the bases in the third inning but managed just one run off Lincoln starter Ben Fox, who worked five innings for his sixth win. Lincoln answered back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Kevin Sullivan. Harris, who had struck out in the inning but reached on a pass ball, scored to give the Dogs a 5-1 lead.

With two outs in the sixth, the Saltdogs got consecutive doubles from Paul Powell, Jay Yaconetti and Tartaglia to increase their lead to 7-1. With Fox lifted after five innings, Lincoln pitched by committee the rest of the game with Chris Russ, Lindsay Gulin, Scott Vandermeer and Kyle Ruwe each working an inning. The Canaries did score a run in each of their final three at bats but never threatened the Saltdogs’ lead.

The game was the final one before the American Association All-Star break, which runs Monday through Wednesday. The All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday with teams from the American Association and Can-Am League meeting in El Paso. Lincoln will be represented by pitchers Jeff Blitstein, Jerrod Fuell and Lindsay Gulin along with catcher Kevin Sullivan. Saltdogs’ skipper Tim Johnson and pitching coach Jimmy Allen will head up the American Association squad.

The Saltdogs return to action on Thursday for the start of a three-game series at Sioux City. Lincoln is next at home on Sunday, July 23 for a seven-game home stand against St. Paul and Sioux City.

www.saltdogs.com