LINCOLN — Despite two home runs from Ian Gac, the Saltdogs (48-46) fell to the Wichita Wingnuts (63-31) 8-4 in front of 2,990 fans at Haymarket Park Tuesday night.
The Wingnuts scored three in the second inning and three more in the fifth, highlighted by long balls from Brent Clevlen and C.J. Ziegler. For Ziegler it was his 30th of the year, extending the American Association single-season record.
Anthony Capra (7-2) pitched six innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out 11 and walking two to earn the win.
Gac hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 7-2. The 28-year old then pummeled a solo shot over the left field wall in the eighth.
Moises Melendez (3-7) lasted 4 1/3 innings, surrendering five earned on eight hits while striking out one and walking two to suffer the loss.
Conor Spink pitched two scoreless innings for Lincoln to finish the game, striking out three.
The clubs are back at it Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. for game two of the four-game series. Stephen Bougher (4-6, 3.68) will take the hill against James Giulietti (2-0, 3.00). Radio coverage will be online only at www.kfor1240.com and the KFOR 1240 mobile app.