LINCOLN — The Gary SouthShore RailCats (16-12) jumped out to a 4-0 lead and hung on for dear life in the ninth to hold off the Saltdogs (13-16) 8-6 in front of 3,252 fans at Haymarket Park Saturday night.
Gary plated four two-out runs in the first two innings to build the early lead off Saltdogs starting pitcher Zachary Varce.
After Chris Anderson walked and Tyler Smith singled, Chad Mozingo crushed a three-run homer into the terrace in right center to pull the Saltdogs to within a run.
The RailCats scored a run in the seventh and three in the top of the ninth to grow their lead to 8-3.
Lincoln capitalized on a Mike Gilmartin lead-off double, a Tony Viger single and two errors to plate three runs in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the bases loaded to end the game.
Matt Forgatch and manager Ken Oberkfell were ejected in the bottom of the third for arguing balls and strikes.
Jon Gaston left the game in the third inning with an oblique injury.
The clubs are back at it Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. for the rubber game of the weekend set. RHP Nick Green (0-2, 3.81) will be on the hill for the Dogs against RHP Stephen Hiscock (2-2, 2.82). Radio coverage begins at 1:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.
Come out to Haymarket Park Sunday and celebrate Father's Day with a free Saltdogs Aluminum Water Bottle from Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program. It's a Sunday Fun Day with Baseball Bingo, and adults can run the bases after the game! Head to www.saltdogs.com for tickets.