LINCOLN — Jake Blackwood hit a two-run homer in the seventh to spoil another great outing from Lindsey Caughel as the Kansas City T-Bones (16-23) beat the Saltdogs (18-20) 2-0 in front of 2,401 fans at Haymarket Park Wednesday night.
Caughel retired the first 19 hitters he faced until Tyson Gillies reached on a soft single to left.
Two batters later Blackwood belted a two-run shot to left, his second homer of the series and seventh of the season.
Caughel (3-3) pitched eight, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out eight but took the loss.
The Saltdogs stranded 11 runners on base. They had the sacks full with one out in the eighth but could not score.
Josh Tols (3-2) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory.
Brandon Jacobs went 3-for-4 in the losing effort.
Caughel has now struck out 55 and walked just nine on the season.
The Saltdogs have now dropped six straight and nine out 10, and have been shut out three times during the stretch.
The series wraps up Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Shairon Martis is expected to face RHP Jordan Cooper.
Radio coverage begins at 6:05 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM with the online stream starting at 6:30 p.m. on AmericanAssociationBaseball.TV.
Thursday is Buck Night with $1 hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsis and Busch Light cans. Great seats still available at saltdogs.com.