LINCOLN — For the second straight game, Jesus Solarzano launched a game-tying home run late as the Joplin Blasters (17-8) came back to upend the Saltdogs (8-22) 6-2 to complete the series sweep in front of 3,314 fans at Haymarket Park Sunday afternoon.
Solarzano’s rocket cleared the wall in left to begin the top of the eighth inning and even the game at 2-2, a night after his two-out, two-run equalizer in the ninth.
The Blasters scored another run in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead and tacked on three more in the ninth against Mackenzie King.
Sam Agnew-Wieland (1-0) fired 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief to earn the win. King (1-1) yielded five runs on six hits two innings of relief to wear the loss.
Lincoln starting pitchers allowed just four runs in 19 1/3 innings over the weekend but the Saltdogs have now lost seven in a row after being swept for the fourth time.
Solarzano and Maikol Gonzalez each had four hits for the Blasters.
The ‘Dogs begin a three-game series at home against Fargo-Moorhead Monday night at 6:35 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 6:05 p.m. on KFOR 1240.
Monday night is a “Bark in the Park” featuring Wachal Wiener Dog Nationals. As a Military Monday, all active military personal and families get in free.