LINCOLN — The starting pitchers combined to throw 15 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts and one walk, then the Grand Prairie AirHogs (32-38) broke through with two runs in the ninth to beat the Saltdogs (35-35) 2-0 in front of 3,518 fans at Haymarket Park Saturday night.
Jimmy Mojica drew a lead-off walk in the top of the ninth, then advanced to third on a Alex Nunez butcher boy single to left.
Mojica scored on a wild pitch and Nunez came home on a Abel Nieves base hit to make it 2-0 Grand Prairie.
Saltdogs' lefty Kevin McGovern threw eight fantastic frames, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 and walking zero.
AirHogs' righty Danny Gutierrez went seven, allowing six hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts.
Ty'Relle Harris (3-3) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win. Marshall Schuler (3-6) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in the ninth to suffer his second loss of the series.
Brandon Pinckney went 2-for-4 with a double for the 'Dogs.
Lincoln could not capitalize on a lead-off double in the third or two singles to begin the seventh, and finished the season-long home stand at 5-5.
The Saltdogs head to Gary to open a pivotal four-game series at U.S. Steel Yard Sunday evening at 5:10 p.m. In a battle of aces, it will be RHP Marquis Fleming (7-3, 3.22) against RHP Dustin Crenshaw (7-4, 2.85). Radio coverage begins at 4:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.