ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Saltdogs (24-36) erupted for five runs in the ninth to pull away from the St. Paul Saints (46-15) in an 8-2 victory in front of 8,604 fans at CHS Field Saturday night.
Lincoln became the first team to beat the Saints in back-to-back games at CHS Field, and handed the league leaders their worst home loss of the year.
Jeremy Hamilton smoked an RBI double down the right field line with one out in the ninth, giving the ‘Dogs some breathing room to make it 4-2.
Two batters later, Matt Forgatch swatted a three-run triple to deep right center to blow open a once-tight affair.
After Shairon Martis left the game with an injury in the fifth, Zac Westcott (3-1) pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just an unearned run with five strikeouts and a walk to earn the win.
Forgatch finished the night 3-for-5 with two triples, a double, three RBI and three runs.
With the ‘Dogs leading 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth, St. Paul had the bases loaded with one out. Martis then struck out Joey Paciorek swinging and Anthony Phillips looking on the 14th pitch of an epic at-bat.
The Saltdogs look to become the first team to take a series from the Saints Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. RHP Jesse Smith (2-4, 3.45) is slated to face RHP Dustin Crenshaw (9-1, 1.97). Radio coverage begins at 4:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.