The Lincoln Saltdogs came up on the short end of a wild game in St. Paul on Sunday, losing 15-14.  Lincoln drops to 45-39 on the season, 16-20 in the second half.

Lincoln’s pitching staff set a dubious team and American Association record in the game, walking 18 Saints batters.  Despite the wildness, the Saltdogs held a 14-13 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, but St. Paul worked back-to-back walks against Lincoln reliever Adam Daniels (6-4).  Saltdogs manager Marty Scott lifted Daniels for Chris Thompson, and was then ejected for arguing the way balls and strikes were being called.  After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, a hit batter tied the game at 14.  Thompson induced a popup for the second out of the inning, but the Saints then scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

The game was a seesaw affair throughout, with Lincoln taking a 6-0 lead in the third inning, only to see St. Paul score five in the third and two in the fourth to pull ahead.  Both teams scored twice in the fifth, and the Saltdogs then seemed to take control with a four-run sixth inning.  The Saints got one back in the bottom of the sixth, Lincoln added two runs in the top of the seventh, and St. Paul answered with three in the bottom of the seventh to get to 14-13.  The ’Dogs outhit St. Paul 22-10, but were undone by the 18 walks, two of which were intentional.

Gavin Dickey, Rafael Alvarez, Juan Richardson, Argelis Nunez and Juan Camacho all had three-hit days for Lincoln, while Jeremy Gillan had a career afternoon, going 4-for-5.  Brandon Jones went 2-for-5, including a 2-run homer, his 11th bomb of the season.  Jones and Richardson both drove in three runs, while Nunez had a team-high four RBI.  Alvarez scored four runs, while Richardson and Gillan each scored three.

Lincoln heads home to open a three-game series against Shreveport-Bossier that begins Monday night at 7:05.  Right-hander Jim Paduch is scheduled to take the mound for the Saltdogs.

For more team and ticket information, go to www.saltdogs.com.