Saltdogs stake claim for contender status with doubleheader sweep of Wichita

July 5, 4:16 PMNebraska Sports ExaminerOliver VanDervoort

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saltdogs logo courtesy of saltdog.com

With just one game left in the American Association’s first half, Lincoln is clearly looking ahead to compete for the North Division second half title. They sit a full nine games back of the league’s best team, the Wichita Wingnuts.

Just two weeks ago, talk about competition for anything seemed illogical, Lincoln sat at 12-23; cemented in last place. Since then the Saltdogs have won 10 of their last 12. While still a good distance behind first place, they are now tied for second in the North division. That becomes important as the second half is set to begin.

The American Association playoffs are usually determined by the winners of each division’s first half, and second half. In this case, if Wichita wins both the first and second halves of the Northern Division, the second playoff spot will go to the North’s best overall record among the rest of the teams. With Lincoln currently sitting tied for the second best record, a second half run anywhere close to how they’ve closed out the first half, make the team playoff bound.

Double Header Top Dogs:

Josh Burrus has had no small part in Lincoln’s turnaround. Batting leadoff in both games of the double header, Burrus went 4 for 8, with 3 runs scored, a home run, a triple, and five RBI.

Brandon Jones is one of the newest Saltdogs. After struggling initially, he’s certainly made himself at home in Lincoln. Hitting 0.372 on the season, Jones went 5 for 7 with three runs scored, and 2 runs batted in.

In the Dog House:

Albenis Machado’s hot streak has greatly coincided with Lincoln’s . It’s not too painful that the day he decided to go cold, the Saltdogs won twice. Considering that Lincoln won 7-3, and 8-3, there weren’t too many things going wrong for the team.

Even though Machado went just 1 for 8 at the plate, he still managed a run scored, and a run batted in.

Lincoln concludes the first half of the season tonight. The Saltdogds for a three game sweep against the Wingnuts before taking Monday off. Tuesday begins with a semi-clean slate.