The Saltdogs scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to come back and edge the Sioux City Explorers 3-2 in front of 5,004 fans on Opening Day at Haymarket Park Wednesday afternoon.

It got ugly in the middle innings as Sioux City punched in 11 runs over the final four innings to rout the Saltdogs 15-6 at Lewis and Clark Park Tuesday night.

The Lincoln Saltdogs are pleased to announce the signing of INF D'Angelo Jimenez (left), an eight-year MLB veteran who is expected to take over as the starting second baseman. PHOTO: Deanne Fitzmaurice/SF Chronicle

Despite several clutch hits and a huge night from Asif Shah, the Sioux City Explorers edged the Saldogs 9-8 in the series opener at Lewis and Clark Park Monday night.

The Saltdogs tied the game with two outs in the ninth, and took their first lead in the 11th on a John Alonso double as they outlasted the Wichita Wingnuts 5-3 in 11 innings at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Kearney native Ryan Sheldon pitched five strong innings, and the Saltdogs bats went on a late-inning rampage in a 13-2 drubbing of the Wichita Wingnuts in front of 2,440 fans at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Saturday night.

For the second straight night, the Saltdogs bats heated up too late as the Wichita Wingnuts downed Lincoln 6-4 in front of 3,458 fans at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Friday night.

The Saltdogs scored five of the game's final six runs but couldn't quite overcome an early deficit as the Wingnuts picked up the 8-6 season-opening victory in front of 3,095 fans at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Thursday night.

The Saltdogs wrapped up their exhibition schedule with a 9-1 loss at CommunityAmerica Ballpark (pictured) in Kansas City Tuesday night. Lincoln has its roster trimmed to 23 players and is set for Thursday night's opener at Wichita.

Mike Provencher stroked an RBI double for the Saltdogs but it wasn't enough as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks downed Lincoln 9-1 in an eight-inning exhibition game at Haymarket Park Friday morning.