SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Saltdogs (51-45) could not hold on to a three-run, sixth inning lead as the Sioux Falls Canaries (32-64) avoided the sweep with a 5-4 victory in their home finale at The Birdcage Thursday night.
Ty Forney clubbed a three-run triple off the wall in left with two out in the sixth, boosting the Canaries in front 5-4 to cap a four-run frame.
Kevin McGovern (3-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out eight and walking three to suffer the loss.
Kye Winter (2-3) permitted four in six innings to grab the win. Alan DeRatt worked a scoreless ninth for his 14th save.
Luis Nunez went 4-for-5 with a home run, his eighth, in the losing effort.
Gary fell 6-1 at Sioux City so the ‘Dogs and RailCats remain tied for first heading into the final weekend. Lincoln holds the tiebreaker after taking seven of 10 from the defending champs in the season series.
Lincoln opens its final series of the year with a double header Friday at Haymarket Park against Sioux City.
Game one begins at 11:05 a.m., and will be an online-only broadcast at www.kfor1240.com, and the KFOR 1240 or TuneIn mobile app. Game two starts at 7:05 p.m., with radio coverage beginning at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240 with “At the Ballpark” and “The Obie Show.”