LINCOLN — All Star Lindsey Caughel returned to the mound, tossing five shutout innings, but the Wichita Wingnuts (46-26) came back to beat the Saltdogs (40-32) 3-1 in front of 3,825 fans at Haymarket Park Sunday evening.
For the second straight game Robby Kuzdale led off the first inning with a hit and scored, and that was the entire Lincoln offense.
Wichita tied the game with an unearned run in the sixth and took the lead on a bases loaded hit batsman in the eighth.
Caughel allowed just three hits with four walks and five strikeouts. It was the league’s ERA leader’s first outing since July 22 after serving a stint on the disabled list.
Frankie Reed booked the final four outs to earn his 15th save, and third of the weekend.
Shairon Martis struck out four in two scoreless innings of middle relief.
The first-place Saltdogs dropped six of eight on the home stand but remain 3 1/2 games ahead in the Central division.
Lincoln begins a quick three-game road trip at Kansas City Monday night at 7:05 p.m. LHP Jeff McKenzie is expected to face RHP Sean Furney. Radio coverage starts at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.