LINCOLN — In a rubber match chock full of strong pitching, the Sioux Falls Canaries (29-39) upended the Saltdogs (36-32) 4-2 in front of 4,611 fans at Haymarket Park Sunday evening.
Adam Champion (6-7) pitched eight innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two and walking three to earn the win. Moises Melendez (2-3) pitched superbly in defeat, allowing three earned on six hits, striking out six and walking one. Melendez retired 11 in a row at one point.
The Canaries scored twice in the third, one unearned, and Marcos Rodriguez added a solo home run in the fifth to make it 3-0.
The Saltdogs scored their runs in the bottom of the eighth, on a David Espinosa triple and a Curt Smith ground out.
Smith finished the night 0-for-4, ending his 11-game hit streak.
Lincoln is off Monday and plays a double header at Winnipeg Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 6 p.m. on KFOR 1240.