WICHITA, Kan. — The Saltdogs (37-26) reached the 11-hit threshold for the sixth straight game but fell to the Wichita Wingnuts (41-23) 5-2 in front of 3,747 fans at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Tuesday night.
The loss was just the sixth of the month in July but the Saltdogs lead Gary by 4 1/2 games atop the Central division.
Wichita scored all four of its runs on four hits and a walk in the second inning.
Matt Larkins (6-3) pitched seven frames, allowing nine hits to suffer the loss.
Rene Leveret had three hits on the night, and the ‘Dogs got a pair from Jon Smith and Ryan Wiggins.
Lincoln plated its runs in the third and fourth.
T.J. Mittelstaedt led off the bottom of the eighth with an opposite field home run, his 11th of the year.
The rubber game between the division leaders is Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. LHP Jeff McKenzie is expected to make the start against RHP Jon Link. Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.
The Saltdogs return home for a four-game series with league-leading St. Paul Thursday night at 6:35. It’s Buck Night featuring $1 Busch Light cans, hot dogs, Pepsis and popcorn. Great seats still available at saltdogs.com.