SIOUX FALLS, SD – The Lincoln Saltdogs notched season highs in runs, hits and margin of victory in a 16-5 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries at the Birdcage.
The Saltdogs (10-7) took the rubber match to win their second straight road series and improve to a season-high three games over .500. They tallied an incredible 33 runs in the series and are now averaging more than seven runs per game.
Lincoln took the lead in the third inning. Dashenko Ricardo blasted a solo home run to get things started. The next three batters reached on singles and Nathaniel Maggio sent one in on a sacrifice fly. Then, Brandon Jacobs knocked in another run with a single. Two batters later, Angel Reyes jacked a three-run home run to make it 7-0.
Saltdogs starter Austin Robichaux threw three perfect innings but ran into trouble in the fourth. Blake Schmit and Jabari Henry started the inning with back-to-back singles. Tyler Wolfe drove them home with a two-out base hit to make it a five-run game.
They continued to score in the fifth. The Canaries (5-10) collected three straight hits and scored a run to start the inning. Robichaux was able to induce a double play to get out of the inning with the 7-3 lead.
Sioux Falls drew even closer the next inning. Wolfe walked to signal the end of Robichaux’s day. Then, Patrick Fiala got a hit and Maxx Garrett doubled off reliever Leland Tilley to send in two runs to make it 7-5. Eric Wooten came in and struck out the final batter to get out of the side.
The Saltdogs got some insurance runs and then some. Curt Smith smoked a two-run homer in the seventh. Ivan Marin doubled in another run in the eighth to make it a five-run lead.
The game exploded in the ninth. Canaries’ reliever Nicco Blank entered and allowed the first four batters to reach before he was replaced by second baseman Tyler Wolfe. The next three Saltdogs got hits to drive in four more runs. Lincoln scored six runs on five hits to build the lead to 16-5.
Eric Wooten, Jose Jose and Kyle Kinman combined to throw 3.1 scoreless innings of the relief. Robichaux earned his first win of the season after lasting 5.1 innings.
The Saltdogs finished their 10-game road trip 6-4 and won four of the last five games.
Lincoln looks to continue its offensive onslaught at Haymarket Park. The Saltdogs start a three-game series against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks tomorrow at 6:45 PM. Coverage begins at 6:15 PM on ESPN 101.5 FM 1480 AM and saltdogs.com.
For more information on the Saltdogs, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter/Instagram @saltdogsball. For ticket information visit https://saltdogs.com/tickets/ or call (402) 474-2255.