LINCOLN — Curt Smith blasted an opposite field home run and Jesse Smith threw well but the Winnipeg Goldeyes (7-10) scored a run in five straight innings to beat the Saltdogs (5-12) 5-3 in front of 2,148 fans at Haymarket Park Monday night.
Smith’s solo shot to right center tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth. An inning later, Jon Gaston’s RBI single evened the series opener at 2-2.
Winnipeg’s lead-off man reached base in the next three innings, scoring each time, to give the Fish a 5-2 lead before Matt Forgatch rocketed a two-out run-scoring double to left in the eighth.
Raul Rivera (1-1) pitched two hitless innings in relief to earn the win. Smith (1-2) went seven, allowing four runs with six strikeouts and three walks but took the loss. Jailen Peguero spun a scoreless ninth for his third save.
Forgatch finished 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two stolen bases. Eddie Young went 1-for-4 with two steals and Mitch Canham turned in a 3-for-5 effort.
The Saltdogs have now dropped 10 out of 12 since opening the season 4-2.
The clubs play game two of the three-game series Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. LHP Kevin McGovern (1-0, 3.79) will take the hill against LHP Kyle Anderson (0-1, 4.70). Radio coverage begins at 6:05 p.m. on KFOR 1240.