Machado glad to be back at Haymarket Park
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BY KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star
Even a loss wasn’t going to damper the enthusiasm Albenis Machado had for playing for the Lincoln Saltdogs in Haymarket Park again.
“It’s still the best organization and front office I’ve been with,” said Machado, who started for the Saltdogs at shortstop in 2004 and 2005. “All the players are new to me, so I’m the new kid on the block. But Lincoln makes you feel like family.
“There were some fans tonight who cheered and waved. I guess they remember me and that makes me feel right at home,” he said.
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What went right: New Saltdogs pitcher Chris Schutt struck out three Explorers in his 1 2/3 innings and Jim Paduch gave up just one hit in the ninth inning. Albenis Machado returned to Lincoln with three hits, including two doubles. Dustin Yount seems out of his slump with a couple of hits.
What went wrong: Sioux City slapped two doubles and counted on a huge home run by Walter Young. Two hits, a walk and a hit batter led to three runs for the Explorers in the first inning as the Saltdogs fell to 2-5 in games at home immediately after a road trip.
Dog bytes: The Saltdogs continued to deal and shake up the roster. Former Saltdog shortstop Albenis Machado, who played for Lincoln in 2004-05, signed with the club on the completion of the Mexican League regular season. He played second base in the series opener with Sioux City. The Saltdogs released second baseman Eduardo Rios, who had played in 65 games this year. Rios was hitting .275 with six home runs. Lincoln signed two pitchers, right-handers Paduch and Schutt, who each pitched in independent baseball this year. Pitcher Jason Jarvis, who just threw his first complete game for the Saltdogs this week, has left Lincoln and signed with the San Francisco Giants organization. He was drafted by the Giants in June. Jarvis finished his Lincoln stay with a 4-6 record and a 2.98 ERA.
Coming up: The series resumes Friday night at 7:05 with Brian Campbell starting for Lincoln. The Saltdogs play Sioux City again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and have Sunday off before resuming the homestand Monday.
Machado did his best, too.
He showed his range and glove work in the field, teaming with shortstop Omar Bramasco to give the Saltdogs a strong middle infield, and smacked two doubles and a single in Lincoln’s 7-4 loss to Sioux City on Thursday night before 3,342 fans.
The cut the Saltdogs lead to one game over the Explorers in the second-half race for the North Division title and a playoff spot in the American Association.
But neither Machado nor acting manager Jim Haller were giving concession speeches.
“I am just learning who these guys are, but I know they can play because I saw them win a lot of games this year and I hear from guys I know around the league,” said Machado. “They want to win. That’s always been like that in Lincoln.“
Haller said the addition of Machado to second base gives the Saltdogs the best infield combo in the league and, with the emergence of rookie catcher Shawn McGill, the strongest “up the middle,” group in the league.
Still, pitching is important and that was the problem Thursday night in the opener of a three-game series with Sioux City.
The Explorers scored three runs in the first inning on just two hits, a walk and a hit batter and tacked on two more in the fifth before Lincoln starter Vince Davis settled in.
Sioux City put the game out of reach in the seventh when Walter Young, listed as the player with the largest body mass in the history of major league baseball (6-5, 320 former Oriole) hit a two-run home run off reliever Darryl Arreola.
“If our relief pitchers get zeroes we probably win this game,” Haller said.
His two newest pitchers Chris Schutt and Jim Paduch combined for 22/3 scoreless innings of relief.
The Saltdogs scored twice in the third when Machado doubled in a run and Mario Delgado’s groundout drove in another.
In the fifth, Delgado singled in Matt Maloney, who singled and stole second base, and Curt Miaso singled in the eighth to score McGill, who tripled to lead off the inning.
“I see these guys want to win and I am happy to be a part of this,” Machado said. “They are winners and I hope I can help in any way.“
Machado left Lincoln in 2005 the club when he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He has since signed with the Chicago Cubs and played in Triple-A baseball in Des Moines, Iowa, played in El Paso, Texas, with the American Association’s Diablos and recently played in the Mexico League the last two months.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
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