FARGO, ND – The Lincoln Saltdogs (57-38) hit into a league-record two triple plays and fell 3-2 to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (55-41) in front of 4,211 fans at Newman Outdoor Field on Thursday afternoon.
The Saltdogs outhit the RedHawks 7-4 but couldn’t muster enough runs to get the series finale win. Fargo-Moorhead took the series 3-2 and the season series 6-5.
Lincoln hit into a triple play with the bases loaded in the first inning. Randolph Oduber bounced it to third baseman Josh Mazzola who turned it to second and first for the triple play. The Saltdogs followed by hitting into an inning-ending double play in the second inning. The next triple play happened with runners on first and second in the fifth inning. Dashenko Ricardo hit a grounder just like Oduber’s and Mazzola tossed it around the horn for the triple turn.
Saltdogs starter Parker Frazier was solid in his third start of the season. He allowed just two runs on two hits over four innings. He walked four and struck out three batters.
The two runs he allowed came in the third inning. K.D. Kang started the inning with a double. Two batters later, Devan Ahart launched a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the RedHawks the lead.
The Saltdogs scored their first run in the top of the sixth. Nathaniel Maggio started the frame with a double and moved to third on a groundout by Joe Robbins. Then, Cesar Valera got another groundball to the right side that scored Maggio to make it 2-1.
Lincoln pulled even in the eighth. Robbins walked with one down and Valera followed with a single. Next, Christian Ibarra notched a base hit to left field to score Robbins and tie it up.
The RedHawks scored the winning run off of Michael Wagner in the next half inning. Chris Grayson got aboard with a one-out single. Then, he stole second and third base to set the table for Mazzola. The veteran hit a sacrifice fly to score Grayson and give Fargo-Moorhead the lead.
The Saltdogs are still in control of the Central Division with four games remaining. They travel to Gary, Indiana to face the RailCats to end the season. First pitch on Friday is at 7:10 PM with coverage beginning at 6:40 PM on ESPN 1480 and saltdogs.com.
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