LINCOLN — Despite another 10 strikeout effort from Joe Bisenius, the Saltdogs (11-10) fell to the Sioux City Explorers (9-12) 6-3 in front of 3,726 fans at Haymarket Park Friday night.
The big inning for the X's came in the fifth, when they put together four hits, with a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to tally four runs, and extend their lead to 5-0.
Bisenius (3-1) pitched seven innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out 10 and walking one to take the loss. It was the second time in the last six days that Bisenius has fanned 10 Explorers.
Richard Salazar (1-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings , allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking three to earn the win.
The first two Lincoln runs came on a Yasel Gomez two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth.
Peter Barrows launched a home run to right center to make it 6-2 Sioux City in the eighth.
Matt Forgatch went 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Daniel Carroll turned in a multi-hit effort as well.
Lincoln had the bases loaded with one out in the second but did not score. The 'Dogs had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth and could not score their either.
The clubs meet again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for game two of the three-game set. Pete Parise (2-1, 2.50) will square off against Jason Jarvis (2-2, 3.54). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.