ST. PAUL, Minn. — Robert Coe threw a complete game as the St. Paul Saints (46-13) handled the Saltdogs (22-36) 7-1 in front of 9,106 fans to kick off the four-game series at CHS Field Thursday night.
Coe (6-2) yielded just two singles and a ninth inning run on a wild pitch to earn the victory.
St. Paul scored a run in the first on an Ian Gac two-out single, two in the third and added four more in the fifth to pull away.
Zach Varce (0-4) lasted 4 1/3 innings, surrendering seven runs on 11 hits to suffer the loss. Zac Westcott pitched 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief with three strikeouts for the ‘Dogs.
Lincoln has now dropped five straight and matches its season-low mark of 14 games below .500.
The ‘Dogs look to even the series Friday night at 7:05 p.m. LHP Kevin McGovern (3-4, 4.97) is slated to face LHP Kramer Sneed (9-2, 3.27). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.