Potters rebound, win PEL series over Humboldt

After seeing their franchise-record winning streak end earlier in the week, the Lincoln Potters responded exactly how manager Eli Garcia hoped they would. Lincoln bounced back with consecutive victories over the Humboldt Crabs, including an 8-5 win Thursday night at McBean Stadium, to claim the opening Pacific Empire League series between two perennial contenders. The matchup has carried added importance in recent seasons. In each of the last two years, the winner of the Potters-Crabs regular-season series has gone on to reach the league championship series. "It feels nice, especially losing the first game to them," Garcia said. "We know every time we play them, it's a battle, but being able to answer back with two wins and taking the series is huge. We're just looking forward to taking it one game at a time and building this momentum." Lincoln entered the week with a franchise-record 15-0 start before losing to Humboldt on Tuesday night. Garcia challenged his club afterward to respond. "The message was, 'We needed to be better,' " Garcia said. "We know we have a lot of talented players here that are capable of doing special things. Credit to the Crabs, they did a hell of a job that first game, but if we do our job, I like our odds in any game." The Potters answered with a 12-4 victory Wednesday before winning Thursday's rubber match behind another balanced offensive performance. Jordy Lopez went 3 for 3 with four runs scored and two stolen bases Thursday. Quincy Malbrough drove in three runs with two hits, Brady Dobson went 3 for 4, and Cash Brennan had two hits and an RBI. Garcia singled out Lopez and Malbrough for the example they set. "Those two are definitely two of our key players," Garcia said. "They're older guys, veteran guys, and just being able to count on them to compete. The results don't always come, but how they go about the process is something every baseball player should look up to." Lincoln wasted little time taking control Thursday. Malbrough drove in Lopez with a single in the first before another RBI single in the third. Ayden Deome followed with an RBI double as the Potters built a 3-0 advantage. The Potters scored twice in the fourth and once each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to stretch the lead to 8-2. Humboldt scored once in the seventh and three runs in the eighth to pull within 8-5. Drew Brown pitched four scoreless innings before Lincoln turned over the game over to its bullpen. Giani Camacho, Dawson Radik, Alex Crosno and Lopez covered the middle innings before Matias Michel closed in the ninth. Michel worked around a hit and a walk to secure the save. Lincoln improved to 17-1 overall. The Potters were scheduled Friday to open a three-game weekend series at home against the newest PEL member, the Marysville Giants.