LINCOLN — The Saltdogs (13-15) scored six runs in the seventh to come back and beat the Gary SouthShore RailCats (15-12) 7-4 in front of 3,327 fans at Haymarket Park Friday night.
Trailing 4-0 at the stretch, Brian Joynt began the festivities with a lead-off double to left. After an error by the Gary third baseman Danny Pulfer, Matt Forgatch singled and Mike Gilmartin followed with a two-run hit.
Two batters later Eddie Young delivered the knockout blow to RailCats starting pitcher Morgan Coombs with a RBI single. Lincoln's final blow in the seventh came on a Chad Mozingo two-run single to center.
Michael Click (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings of middle relief to earn the win. Marshall Schuler worked a scoreless ninth to book his seventh save, and second in as many night.
Joynt finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a double. Matt Forgatch went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored.
Coombs (3-2) allowed six runs – four earned – on six hits in six-plus innings to suffer the loss.
Saltdogs first baseman Kevin Howard had to leave the game in the bottom of the seventh with an injury.
The clubs are back at it Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for game two of the three-game series. RHP Zachary Varce (1-1, 4.35) will square off against RHP Dustin Crenshaw (2-1, 1.70). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.