SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Mitch Canham homered and Shairon Martis pitched a complete game, but the Saltdogs (22-33) were beaten for the fifth straight time by Sioux City (38-17) 7-3 in front of 1,495 fans at Lewis and Clark Park Monday night.
The Explorers scored three runs in the second inning – to earned – to jump out to the early lead.
Canham slugged a searing line drive over the right field wall with two outs in the fourth for his fourth homer of the year, breaking up a budding perfect game. Canham finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Trailing 3-2, the Saltdogs loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, but mustered just one run on a Steve Tinoco sacrifice fly in his Lincoln debut. Sioux City used the momentum to plate three runs – on two hits and three walks – to make it 6-2 after five.
Jeff Marquez (6-5) pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits to pick up the win. Shairon Martis (4-2) pitched eight innings, allowing seven runs – five earned – on nine hits to suffer the loss.
Both of Martis’ losses have been at the hands – or bats, if you will – of the Explorers.
Game two of the three-game series is Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jesse Smith (2-3, 3.51) is expected to start against RHP Patrick Johnson (7-0, 2.08). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.