LINCOLN, Nebraska – Curt Smith tied Bryan Warner’s franchise record with his 90th career homer, and the Saltdogs rallied to sweep the Houston Apollos with an 8-5 win at Haymarket Park on Thursday night.
Smith went back-to-back with Josh Altmann in a three-run 8th after the ‘Dogs (15-11) rallied from a three-run deficit to match their biggest come-from-behind win of the year.
Smith’s 90th homer – and his fourth of the year – was a solo shot not far from where Altmann’s two-run homer landed to give Lincoln a 7-5 lead.
The ‘Dogs fell behind on Brian Dansereau’s solo homer in the 4th before Forrestt Allday’s RBI groundout tied things in the 5th. After the Apollos (4-23) scored three in the 6th, the ‘Dogs got two back on Edgar Corcino’s RBI single and Patrick Adams’s sacrifice fly.
Houston scored on a double-steal in the 7th, and Skyler Weber tied the game with a two-run single.
Altmann had two more hits and Weber went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. Corcino’s two hits gave him five for the series, while Justin Byrd had a walk and a single at the top of the order.
John Richy allowed four runs in 5.1 innings, while Tyler Anderson tossed 0.2 scoreless frames. Jake Hohensee allowed one run on two walks in the 7th, while Greg Minier got the win with a scoreless 8th and Logan Lombana earned his second save in the 9th.
The Saltdogs swept their first series of the year and won seven of nine on the homestand, and Lincoln is now a season-high four games over .500. The ‘Dogs head to Sioux City for a three-game series against the Explorers starting Friday.
Lincoln is just one game back of the X’s for first place, and first pitch of Friday’s game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and pregame coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on ESPN Lincoln 101.5 FM/1480 AM.
The Saltdogs are celebrating their 20th season at Haymarket Park this season! All ticket and promotional information can be viewed at saltdogs.com.