LINCOLN — Wade Mackey pitched six strong innings and Jared McDonald finished a home run shy of the cycle as the Saltdogs (13-19) upended St. Paul (16-15) 5-2 at Haymarket Park Tuesday night.
Mackey (2-0) went six, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five to earn the win. Mackey did not allow a baserunner until two outs in the fourth inning.
The ‘Dogs jumped out to a first-inning lead on a Jimmy Rohan frozen-rope double off the wall in left. Lincoln added two in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie, then tallied two more in the sixth on a McDonald two-run triple.
McDonald finished 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, a stolen base and two runs.
Tanner Townsend hit a solo home run to left, his fifth, with one out in the top of the ninth to make it 5-2.
Billy Spottiswood (0-2) allowed four runs on seven hits in three innings of relief to wear the loss.
The teams meet for the rubber match Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.
Come on out to Haymarket Park Wednesday night for Cappy’s Wing Wednesday and Dance Night! For ticket information call 402-474-2255 or visit www.saltdogs.com.