LINCOLN — The Sioux City Explorers (64-21) routed the Saltdogs (30-55) 11-3 on a rainy night in front of 3,832 fans to clinch the weekend series at Haymarket Park Tuesday night.
The start of the game was delayed by 26 minutes due to rain, and the game entered another rain delay in the middle of the ninth before it was called official due to unplayable conditions.
After falling behind 5-0, the Saltdogs rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sioux City then came right back and plated four runs in the sixth.
Patrick Johnson (13-1) pitched six innings, allowing three runs to earn the win. Jesse Smith (3-8) surrendered nine runs on 12 hits in six frames to suffer the loss.
Mike Gilmartin went 1-for-4 to extend his hit streak to nine games. Jeremy Hamilton went 2-for-3 to push his streak to seven games.
The central champion Explorers improve to 12-0 against Lincoln in 2015.
Sunday evening Lincoln looks to avoid the sweep at 5:05. RHP Shairon Martis is expected to face LHP Ryan Strufing. Radio coverage begins at 4:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.