LINCOLN – Shairon Martis allowed just one run over eight innings and earned the win as the Lincoln Saltdogs (48-28) beat the Sioux City Explorers (39-39) 4-1 on Saturday night at Haymarket Park.
The victory broke a 0-5 streak against Sioux City this season. It avenged an extra-inning loss against the division rival on Friday night.
Martis was brilliant, tossing 118 pitches including 82 strikes for a phenomenal 70 percent strike rate. He surrendered just one run on seven hits over eight innings. He struck out four batters without issuing a walk.
The Saltdogs gave him run support in the bottom of the second inning. Randolph Oduber started the frame with a double and moved to third on a fly out by Brandon Jacobs. Then, Matty Johnson got a single to fall to push across the first run of the game. Dashenko Ricardo got a base hit and then a fielder’s choice groundout by Ivan Marin put runners on the corners. The next batter walked to load the bases and send Cesar Valera to the plate. The All-Star hit a fly ball single to shallow right field and Johnson and Marin scored to put the ‘Dogs in front 3-0.
Sioux City scored their only run in the top of the fourth inning. Tyler Ogle doubled to begin the inning and moved to third on a groundout. Levon Washington hit him home with a single to shorten the Saltdogs lead to two runs.
The Saltdogs responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Joe Robbins hit a two-out solo homer over the right field fence to get it back to a three-run advantage. It was his second home run of the series after entering with just an inside-the-park homer on the season.
Saltdogs closer Michael Wagner pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 17th save, tying him for the league lead.
Ricardo notched a three hit day and Oduber tallied his fourth multi-hit game in the last five contests.
The Saltdogs try to get a series split with the X’s on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is at 2:05 PM with coverage beginning at 1:35 PM on ESPN 1480 and saltdogs.com.
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