LINCOLN — Pete Parise was superb and new catcher Jose Gil had a tremendous all-around game as the Saltdogs (24-18) disposed of the El Paso Diablos (10-33) 4-1 in front of 4,739 fans at Haymarket Park Saturday night.
Parise (4-3) pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out nine and walking two to earn the victory.
P.J. Zocchi relieved Parise with one out and two on in the top of the eighth but was able to get out of the jam with no further damage done. R.J. Rodriguez worked a hitless ninth for his third save in the last two days, and his 17th of the year.
Gil hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to open the game's scoring, his first of the year. Gil finished the night 2-for-4 and threw out a would-be base stealer as well.
El Paso manager Carlos Lezcano was ejected in the middle of the eighth inning.
The Saltdogs have now won three straight after dropping their previous three, and have matched a season-high mark of six games above .500.
Lincoln will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. Mike Burns (2-2, 3.71) will face Kevin Brahney (0-3, 4.98). Radio coverage begins at 1:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.