LINCOLN — Trevor Martin hit a gargantuan three-run homer, and Joe Bisenius fanned eight, but the Saltdogs (4-7) could not hang on to a late lead in a 7-6 loss to the Grand Prairie AirHogs (4-7) in front of 2,442 fans at Haymarket Park Monday evening.
Martin's three-run blast to left, his first, tied the game at 3-3 with two outs in the third inning after Chris Anderson had walked and Chad Mozingo had singled.
The 'Dogs took the 4-3 lead with two outs in the bottom of the fourth on a Eddie Young RBI single. After Grand Prairie drew even in the top of the fifth, Lincoln sprung for two more in the last of the fifth to take a 6-4 advantage.
The AirHogs chipped away with a run in the sixth on a Brandon Pinckney RBI base hit, and tied the game again on an unearned run in the top of the eighth. Grand Prairie's ninth-inning, winning tally came in unearned fashion as well, as an error lead to a RBI fielder's choice in a close play at the plate.
Dustin Cameron (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth inning to pick up the win in relief. Saltdogs closer Marshall Schuler (0-1) allowed an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings to suffer the loss. Dakota Watts allowed the first two runners in the bottom of the ninth to reach but buckled down to notch his third save.
Martin finished 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI. Mozingo, Young and Jon Gaston each had two hits as well.
Bisenius allowed five runs in six innings, striking out eight, but did not factor into the decision.
The Saltdogs have allowed four unearned runs in the eighth inning or later over the last two games.
The clubs are back at it Tuesday night at 5:05 p.m. for a double header of seven-inning games. Radio coverage begins at 4:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.
New this season is "2 For Tuesdays" featuring $1 Amigo's Tacos. Come out each Tuesday and get 2 Amigos Tacos for $2! We will also have "2-for" Ticket options and "2-for" merchandise options. May 27 is Fiesta Night as well, so get your tickets now at www.saltdogs.com.