LINCOLN, NE – The total solar eclipse caused a 26-minute delay and the Lincoln Saltdogs beat the Gary SouthShore RailCats 8-5 on Monday afternoon in front of 6,956 fans at Haymarket Park.
The total solar eclipse caused a delay at 12:48 PM after the completion of the top of the third inning. The total eclipse began at 1:02 PM and lasted for one minute and 24 seconds. The game resumed at 1:14 PM.
The RailCats (48-38) jumped ahead early. They scored three runs on three hits off of Saltdogs (54-30) starter Parker Frazier in the top of the second inning.
The Saltdogs left runners on base in the second and fourth innings before exploding in the fifth. Lincoln plated eight runs on eight hits and a walk in the frame.
The first run scored when Brent Dean knocked in Juan Martinez with an infield single. Then, Joe Robbins hit the first home run of the inning, a three-run line drive over the left field wall. Then, Cesar Valera singled and stole second base to bring up Randolph Oduber with one out. Oduber belted a two-run homer to right field for the sixth run of the inning. On the next pitch, Nathaniel Maggio hit a towering solo shot to right field. Christian Ibarra closed out the scoring with an RBI two-out double.
The big fifth inning set season highs for runs in an inning (eight), batters in an inning (12), hits in an inning (eight) and tied the high mark for home runs in an inning (three). Oduber and Maggio’s homers were the third time the Saltdogs have gone back-to-back this season.
Relievers Dimitri Kourtis and Cameron McVey worked five shutout innings of relief before Gary SouthShore scored two runs in the ninth.
Fabio Martinez could find the zone and allowed the first four batters to reach base. Closer Michael Wagner was inserted and didn’t allow another run. He retired three of the last four batters to notch his 19th save of the season.
The victory gave the Saltdogs their fifth straight win. The team has hit 13 home runs in the last four games. Oduber, Maggio, Robbins, Dean and Brandon Jacobs each have multiple long balls over that stretch.
The Saltdogs face the RailCats in the second game of the series on Tuesday night. First pitch is at 6:45 PM with coverage beginning at 6:15 PM on ESPN 1480 and saltdogs.com.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling (402) 474-2255 or visiting Saltdogs.com. For the latest information on the Saltdogs follow the team on Facebook and Twitter/Instagram @saltdogsball.