The Lincoln Saltdogs won in dramatic fashion Wednesday night, scoring two in the ninth to beat Wichita 5-4 at Haymarket Park. The walkoff win puts the Saltdogs back into a first-place tie in the American Association North Division.

Lincoln started the winning rally when Albenis Machado drew a leadoff walk against former Saltdog Byron Embry (2-1). Embry retired the next two batters, but Dustin Yount singled to left, putting runners on first and second. That set the stage for Shawn McGill, who cracked a 2-0 pitch deep into the gap in left-center. Machado and Yount both scored standing up, and the entire team mobbed McGill at home plate to celebrate the come-from-behind victory.

Before the ninth, it had been a frustrating night for the Saltdogs offense. Lincoln left eight runners on base in the first five innings, six of them in scoring position. Wichita took a 4-0 lead with two runs in the second and two more in the third off Lincoln starter Vince Davis, who lasted 5 2/3 innings in his fourth start of the season. The Dogs chipped away with single runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings, and the final rally made a winner out of reliever Jim Paduch (1-0), who allowed just one hit and one walk in 3 1/3 innings of work.

On the night, McGill finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Yount went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Curt Miaso chipped in two hits and two runs scored for Lincoln, who improves to 18-13 on the second half of the season and now sits in a first-place tie with Sioux City.

The Saltdogs head to Sioux Falls on Thursday to begin a three-game series at The Birdcage. Brian Campbell is scheduled to make the start for Lincoln.

Courtesy: saltdogs.com