SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Saltdogs (27-22) overcame a late-inning deficit to beat the Sioux Falls Canaries (18-31) 7-4 in front of 2,466 fans at The Birdcage Sunday afternoon.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh, Matt Forgatch singled in David Espinosa to tie the game at 4-4. Lincoln took the lead for good on a Daniel Carroll RBI single in the eighth.
Stayton Thomas (2-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings to earn the victory in relief. Kirk Clark (0-2) allowed two runs on five hits in 1 2/3 relief innings to take the loss. R.J. Rodriguez fired a perfect ninth for his league-leading 18th save.
10 different Saltdogs had at least one hit in a 16-hit barrage. Espinosa led the way, going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Carroll, Forgatch, Brian Wuest and Sean O'Connell each turned in multi-hit games as well.
Brian Embery, who entered the game in the seventh after Wuest left with a mid at-bat injury, homered for the second time in as many days to extend the Saltdogs lead in the ninth.
The Saltdogs stranded seven runners in scoring position from the second through the sixth inning.
Lincoln started Moises Melendez left the game in the sixth with an apparent left hand injury.
The clubs are back it Monday night at 7:20 p.m. for game three of the four-game series. Stephen Bougher (1-1, 2.57) will face Adam Champion (3-4, 6.79). Radio coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on KFOR 1240.