LINCOLN — Mike Burns was outstanding on the hill and Daniel Carroll carried the club at the plate as the Saltdogs (19-14) edged the Sioux City Explorers (14-18) 2-1 in front of 3,091 fans at Haymarket Park Wednesday night.
Burns (2-1) pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out six and walking one to earn the victory.
Carroll tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to left, his fourth of the season. Following a Sean O'Connell sacrifice bunt in the seventh, Carroll hit a sac fly to right center to give Lincoln the 2-1 lead.
R.J. Rodriguez worked a perfect ninth to notch his league-leading 12th save of the campaign.
Jason Jarvis (4-3) pitched eight innings, allowing two runs on five hits to take the loss, his second complete-game loss against the 'Dogs this year.
Stephen Douglas went 2-for-4 in his return to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a hamstring ailment.
The Saltdogs embark on a seven-game road trip up north beginning Thursday night. Lincoln will face Winnipeg at 7 p.m. at Shaw Park. Moises Melendez (1-0, 3.03) will square off against Peter Gehle (1-1, 4.61). Radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on KFOR 1240.