TROIS-RIVIERES, P.Q., Qué. — Zachary Varce turned in another solid outing but again fell victim to lack of support as the Saltdogs (27-28) fell to the Trois-Rivieres Aigles (18-32) 3-1 in an inter-league game at Stade Fernand-Bedard Tuesday night.
Varce (2-6) pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, striking out seven and walking two but suffered the loss. The 25-year old righty has received just one run of support over his last 14 2/3 innings of work.
The Eagles scored two runs on a two-out single from Carlos Guzman in the first. After Brian Joynt singled in the Saltdogs' lone run in the top of the seventh, Trois-Rivieres responded a solo homer from Jose Cuevas in the home seventh.
Matt Rusch (5-3), selected as a North All-Star, went six shutout innings, fanning five and walking three to earn the win. Sean Keeler pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.
Matt Forgatch went 3-for-5 with a double in the losing effort. Lincoln stranded eight runners in the first five innings, and 10 for the game, struggling with runners in scoring position all night.
The clubs are back at it Wednesday night at 6:05 p.m. CT for game two of the three-game inter-league series. Radio coverage begins at 5:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.