Winnipeg 5, Lincoln 4 (Winnipeg leads series, 1-0) – Box
Winnipeg 2B Casey Turgeon singled home 3B Wes Darvill with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Goldeyes defeated Lincoln 5-4 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals. The Saltdogs scored single runs in the second through fifth innings to take a 4-0 lead only to see Winnipeg score four of their own in the sixth to tie the contest at 4-4 and then win it with the run in the eighth. Darvill and 1B Shawn Pleffner each had two hits on the night with a run scored while LF and Player of the Year Josh Romanski drew three walks and plated a run.
Goldeyes pitcher Mitchell Lambson tossed a scoreless seventh inning to nab the victory. Lambson allowed a pair of hits while striking out two in the five batters faced.
For Lincoln, 3B/CF Joe Robbins and 1B/RF Curt Smith each launched a solo home run and had a combined four hits on the night.
Game two of the series is back at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Thursday.
Wichita 4, Gary SouthShore 2 (Wichita leads series, 1-0) – Box
Starting pitcher Danny Gutierrez tossed seven strong innings in leading Wichita to a 4-2 victory over Gary SouthShore in game one of the best-of-five semifinals. Gutierrez was terrific tonight as he allowed no runs on two hits and struck out seven batters in a 94-pitch effort. With that performance, the righty nabbed his first victory of the postseason.
Offensively for the Wingnuts, C Martin Medina led the way going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI. Wichita SS Leo Vargas added three hits in four at-bats while 3B T.J. Mittelstaedt and LF Brennen Salgado each had a hit and plated a run. Wichita scored a pair of runs in both the fourth and seventh innings.
For Gary SouthShore, leadoff hitter Alex Crosby went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Game two of the series will be Thursday night in Gary.
Fans can watch all American Association postseason games live and for free at www.americanassociationbaseball.tv.
