GARY, Ind. — Dennis Raben came through with three two-out RBI and Nathan Moreau looked terrific on the hill as the Saltdogs (2-1) held off the Gary SouthShore RailCats (1-2) 4-3 in front of 2,826 fans at U.S. Steel Yard Saturday night.
Raben's big hit – which proved to be the game-winner – came with two outs in the top of the eighth: he clubbed a two-run double to right center to give the 'Dogs a 4-2 lead.
The RailCats made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth with a run off Saltdogs closer R.J. Rodriguez. Gary had the possible tying runner on base before Rodriguez struck out Zac Mitchell swinging to end the game and earn his first save.
Eddie McKiernan (1-1) earned the win in relief with two shutout innings. Estevan Uriegas took a tough-luck loss, allowing an unearned run in 1/3 of an inning.
The two runs Lincoln scored in the eighth to take the 4-2 lead were unearned due to Gary catcher Ryan Babineau's throwing error following a Daniel Carroll strikeout.
Nathan Moreau was fantastic in five innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out eight and walking one. Moreau didn't allow his first hit until the fifth.
Raben finished the night 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI.
The 'Dogs opened the scoring with two runs in the first before Gary evened things up with two in the fifth.
The Saltdogs and RailCats play the finale of the four-game series Sunday afternoon at 2:10 p.m. Ben Henry will make his first start of the season against Will Krout. Radio coverage begins at 1:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.