LAREDO, Texas — Ryan Lashley laced a grand slam but shortly after, the offense shut down as the Laredo Lemurs (4-7) blew by the Saltdogs (4-7) 12-5 in front of 1,334 fans at Uni-Trade Stadium Monday night.
Lashley’s four-run deep fly to left gave Lincoln a 4-2 lead in the third, then Laredo scored 10 of the game’s final 11 runs.
The Lemurs pitching did not allow a hit after the Saltdogs loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth.
Laredo hit three home runs and piled on 17 hits to snap a three-game skid and hand Lincoln its fifth consecutive defeat.
Ryan Beckman (1-0) pitched two perfect innings of relief to earn the win. Zach Staniewicz (0-2) yielded nine earned on 11 hits in four-plus innings to take the loss.
D’Vontrey Richardson, Luke Bailey and Tony Delmonico all homered for Laredo, who improve to 6-1 all-time at home against the ‘Dogs.
Matt Forgatch and C.J. Ziegler had two-hit nights for the ‘Dogs. Lincoln has now totaled 25 runs on 46 hits during the first four games of their six-game Texas road trip, but have lost all four.
The clubs are back at it Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. for game two of the three-game set. RHP Jesse Smith (1-0, 0.73) will square off against RHP Matt Loosen (0-0, 6.35). Radio coverage begins at 7:05 p.m. on KFOR 1240.
Lincoln returns home June 5 with a Firework Friday following the 7:05 p.m. opener against Wichita. Tickets are available at www.saltdogs.com.