SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Sioux City Explorers (40-46) returned the favor they were handed in the series opener, shutting out the Saltdogs (45-38) 3-0 in front of 914 fans at Lewis and Clark Park Friday night.
Nick Green (3-5) went the distance, pitching eight innings while allowing three runs but absorbed the loss. After allowing a lead-off homer to Peter Barrows in the fourth, the veteran righty surrendered just one hit the rest of the way.
In his first pitch seen in an Explorers uniform, newly-inked Brock Kjeldgaard blasted a towering solo home run to left to begin the second inning.
The Saltdogs threw out a runner at the plate in the second, on a brilliant Jon Gaston-to-Omar Luna-to-Chris Anderson relay.
John Straka (7-5) worked six scoreless, striking out six and walking two to earn the win. Chris Bodishbaugh pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save of the year.
Lincoln mustered merely five hits on the night, and just three after the first inning.
Game three of the four-game series is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. from Lewis and Clark Park. Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.