Saltdog pitcher's first start a success
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BY KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star
Vince Davis answered the “what if” question with a resounding “Sure.”
The former reliever roared through his first start of the season to lift the Lincoln Saltdogs to an 8-2 victory against St. Paul before 4,383 fans Saturday night at Haymarket Park.
The victory kept Lincoln (10-7) atop the North Division of the American Association for the second half of the season.
What went right: Vince Davis, a former reliever, was strong in his first start for the Saltdogs. He pitched his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first inning, and was hit for just one run in the fifth. Lincoln second baseman Skip Adams is on a tear. He hit a two-run double in the fourth and singled in the first. Matt Maloney continued to rip St. Paul pitching with his second home run in two games. Mario Delgado hit his 11th home run.
What went wrong: Adams and Jonny Kaplan were caught stealing. The Saltdogs have been caught 20 times in 85 attempts. Kaplan later stole second for his 23rd base of the year.
Dog bytes: Jason Jarvis will start for the Saltdogs in today’s 2:05 p.m. game. The game is the last before the All-Star break. This year’s American Association All-Star Game is Tuesday in St. Paul. Saltdog first baseman Dustin Yount is the Lincoln pick for the North team. The Saltdogs don’t play at home again until July 31.
“Looking back, maybe we made a mistake,” said Lincoln interim manager Jim Haller, who also doubles as pitching coach. Haller and manager Tim Johnson determined that Davis, a 6-foot-6 left-hander, was needed in the bullpen when they acquired the Chicago native before the start of the season.
Davis was 3-2 with a 4.50 earned-run average in 25 games and 36 innings of relief.
But he was given his first start of the year and held the powerful Saints to seven hits and two runs, walking three and striking out six in 61/3 innings.
He was only in trouble in the first inning, when the Saints scratched out two infield hits and former Saltdog Pichi Balet walked to load the bases with one out. But Davis struck out the next batter and got Brent Krause to fly out to left to end the threat.
“I wasn’t going to get mad or upset with the infield hits — that’s where you can lose it all,” said Davis, who pitched in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization for two years before joining independent baseball. “We were OK. I needed to stay focused and it all worked out. We have a solid defense. I knew we’d be getting some hits.”
The Saltdogs smacked 16 hits, including home runs by Matt Maloney, his second in two nights, and Mario Delgado. Shawn McGill, who homered in Friday’s victory, was 4-for-4, and Skip Adams, Jonny Kaplan and Shea McFeely each collected two hits in the rout.
“We’re playing some good baseball right now, just like we did on our road trip last week,” said Maloney, who has six RBIs in his last five games. “Worky (hitting coach Jim Workman) has been working with me on the same things over and over and I’m getting the benefit of hitting behind Skip Adams and in front of Jonny Kaplan. Skip gets plenty of hits and Kaplan is one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup.”
The Saltdogs have won eight of the last 11 games, including the last two at home.
“We’re getting people on, moving them around and getting some runs,” Haller said. “Skip does such a great job leading off. Maloney got us a big hit tonight and Kappy (Kaplan) is just supposed to drive the ball, but he’s getting on and creating a lot of pressure on the pitchers.”
The Saltdogs got strong relief pitching for the second game in a row, too.
Alvaro Orozco and newly acquired Dusty Bergman gave up a total of three hits in 21/3 scoreless innings.
“That’s important because we’re a little short on relief. But it also helps when we have Jarrett Gardner go deep into the game Friday and Vince go even farther tonight,” Haller said.
The Saltdogs complete the three-game series with St. Paul today with a 2:05 p.m. game. The league takes a break for the All-Star Game and returns to action Wednesday. The Saltdogs return home July 31.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
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