LINCOLN — Wilberto Ortiz hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Saltdogs (35-50) a 7-5 win over the Amarillo Sox (41-45) in front of 5,642 fans at Haymarket Park Saturday night.
After Chris McMurray worked a two-out walk in the last of the ninth, Ortiz stroked a slicing line drive that tucked inside the right field foul pole to bring Lincoln the victory in his second game in a ‘Dogs uniform.
Lincoln tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning after Sean Smith tripled with two outs and came in to score on a David Espinosa single.
Six of the seven Saltdogs runs were tallied with two outs. Espinosa went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs, two stolen bases, a walk and three two-out RBI.
Yohan Gonzalez (1-0) pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief to pick up the win. Chase Johnson (4-4) allowed two runs on one hit in 2/3 of an inning to suffer the loss.
Moises Melendez pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits before leaving the game with an apparent leg injury.
The clubs meet Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. for the rubber match of the three-game series. Brandon Sinnery (3-0, 4.50) will square off against Ryan Mitchell (7-2, 4.91). Radio coverage begins at 4:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.