Saltdogs Rally to Down Explorers in Opener, Split Double-Header
by Michael Dixon, Lincoln Saltdogs
LINCOLN, Nebraska – The Lincoln Saltdogs (27-31) and Sioux City Explorers (23-33) split a doubleheader at Haymarket Park on Tuesday night, with Lincoln winning Game 1, 7-4, and Sioux City winning Game 2, 10-5.
GAME 1
The Saltdogs hit three home runs and rallied to take the first game of the doubleheader, 7-4, against the Sioux City Explorers.
Trailing 4-2 in the 4th inning, Welington Dotel hit a solo homer to get Lincoln within one. Later in the frame, Drew Devine gave the Saltdogs a 5-4 lead with a two-out, two-run single.
In the 5th inning, Josh Altmann hit his third homer in the second half of the season – a two-run shot to put the Saltdogs ahead by three.
After the X’s opened the scoring in the 2nd, Hunter Clanin’s two-run homer put Lincoln ahead in the bottom-half of the inning.
Matt Cronin went 1 and 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first win of 2022, while Steffon Moore picked up his eighth save by working around a two-out hit batter in a scoreless 7th inning.
GAME 2
The Explorers broke open the second game with a seven-run 6th inning in a 10-5 over the Saltdogs.
After Lincoln took a 2-1 lead on Dotel’s RBI groundout an Garett Delano’s RBI single in the 1st, Ademar Rifaela gave Sioux City a 3-2 lead with a two-run homer in the 4th.
The X’s then scored seven times on seven hits to open things up in the 6th.
Zach Keenan allowed nine runs – eight earned – on 10 hits over five-plus innings, while Jesse Stallings pitched the remainder of the game and allowed one run over two innings.
The ‘Dogs rallied for three runs in the 7th. Ryan Long worked a bases-loaded walk before Josh Altmann’s two-run single made it 10-5. Altmann finished 3-for-4 and had four RBIs in the doubleheader.
The series continues Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and pregame coverage will begin at 6:35 on ESPN Lincoln 101.5 FM/1480 AM.
The Saltdogs are playing their 21st season in Lincoln! Visit saltdogs.com and follow us @saltdogsball on all social media for information regarding tickets and promotions all season long.