There are no lost causes with the Lincoln Saltdogs.
KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, July 4, 2009 12:00 am
There are no lost causes with the Lincoln Saltdogs.
The refusal to see anything as futile and more games as an opportunity drove thae Lincoln Saltdogs to a 8-3, 7-3 sweep of the Northern Division champion Wichita Wingnuts on Saturday at Haymarket Park.
It's all part of a major turnaround, as Wichita had posted six consecutive victories against Lincoln before this weekend.
The Saltdogs, winners of 10 of their last 12 games, were in the American Association cellar just two weeks ago. Now, with one game left in the first half of the season, Lincoln could finish with the third-best record in the 10-team league.
"That's important because we work hard to win and we want to be winners through the rest of the season," said Saltdog right fielder Deacon Burns. "We keep in the fight now, it will be something we know we can do all the second half of the season."
Burns was one of the spark plugs in Saturday's first game. He hit a two-run home run and scored twice. Teammate Josh Burrus hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The Saltdogs' Brandon Jones picked up three hits, including a double and a two-run single, to back a solid pitching performance by ace Jarrett Gardner.
In the second game, Jim Paduch was strong, pitching 62/3 innings in the seven-inning contest. He struck out five, allowing just eight hits and walking two.
"We've got guys swinging with confidence and that adds to a pitcher's confidence," Paduch (4-3) said. "The guys did a great job scoring a lot of runs. We're all a part of this win streak.
"We really didn't change much from when we were playing hard and practicing hard and losing," he said. "It was a matter of breaks and we weren't getting them. But you know they're going to come. We kept our character, maybe even got stronger in character and the results are a lot different."
In the second game, leadoff hitter Burrus picked up three hits and drove in three with a triple and a single off the pitcher's leg. Phil Hawke had two singles and a double, and Jones banged out two more hits.
Lincoln manager Marty Scott said he was sure his team would start winning, he just wasn't sure when.
"I knew we were doing the work, doing the practicing and we'd go some places and lose to teams that didn't work that hard," he said. "It was a little frustrating but now, well, you can see the results."
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.