LINCOLN — The Rockland Boulders (50-27) tallied two in the eighth to beat the Saltdogs (30-49) 9-8 and take the weekend inter-league series in front of 4,069 fans at Haymarket Park Sunday evening.
Lincoln overcame an early 5-2 deficit after a Stephen Cardullo second-inning grand slam, drawing even at 6-6 with three runs in the home fifth.
After Marcus Nidiffer belted his third homer of the weekend, a solo shot to give Rockland the 7-6 edge in the seventh, the Saltdogs quickly tied the game on a Mike Gilmartin double.
The Boulders plated two in the eighth. Mitch Canham led off the bottom of the ninth with a mammoth solo homer to right, his fifth of the season.
After a two-out walk and single, the Saltdogs stranded the possible tying run at third as the game ended.
Daniel Carela (4-0) pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn the win. Conor Spink (4-5) allowed three runs in two innings of relief to suffer the loss. Chad Robinson came in to get the final out – on one pitch – to earn the save.
Canham finished the game 3-for-5 with a homer and three runs. Gilmartin went 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI. Curt Smith went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run as the Saltdogs racked up 15 hits, totaling 35 for the series.
Juan Medina went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his Saltdogs debut.
The Saltdogs open a four-game series at Fargo Monday night at 7:02 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.