LINCOLN — Despite long balls from David Espinosa and Stephen Holdren, the Saltdogs (37-53) fell to the Sioux Falls Pheasants (40-50) 8-6 in front of 3,961 fans in their home finale at Haymarket Park Thursday night.
Holdren’s three-run shot with two outs in the bottom of the seventh pulled the ‘Dogs to a 7-6 deficit, but that would be as close as they would come.
Mark Michael (7-7) pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits to earn the win. Wade Mackey (6-2) surrendered seven runs on 10 hits in four innings to suffer the loss.
Espinosa belted a solo home run in the bottom of the third, his sixth of the campaign.
Lincoln finished the 2012 home schedule with a 24-26 record.
The Saltdogs wrap up their season with a 10-game road trip against Can-Am league opponents, beginning with a 5:35 p.m. game against Newark Bears Friday night. Radio coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. on KFOR 1240.