SALTDOGS BASEBALL: Lincoln Sweeps Sioux Falls With Sunday Afternoon Victory
By Michael Dixon
LINCOLN—Ricky Knapp allowed just two runs over seven innings and earned his first win since June 21st, and the ‘Dogs swept the Canaries with a 4-2 win on Sunday night at Haymarket Park.
Knapp allowed just six hits with one walk and four strikeouts in his longest start since July 7th, and the ‘Dogs have a season-long seven-game winning streak at home.
Curt Smith opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the 1st inning before Clint Coulter tied the game on a solo homer in the 2nd.
The Canaries took their first lead of the series when Burt Reynolds scored on a groundout in the 5th, but the ‘Dogs tied the game with an unearned run in the 6th when a two-out error from shortstop Andrew Ely allowed Christian Ibarra to score.
Lincoln took the lead for good in the 7th. With two on and nobody out, Ivan Marin attempted a sacrifice bunt when the throw to first hit his back and rolled down the right-field line. Nick Schulz scored the go-ahead run, and Ibarra later added another with a sacrifice fly.
Reese Gregory earned his second save of the series with a scoreless 8th and 9th innings. He struck out Josh Rehwaldt with the tying run at second to end the game.
Marin now has hits in eight consecutive games – the longest active streak for a Saltdog. Christian Ibarra has reached safely in 21 straight.
The ‘Dogs continue a season-long nine-game roadtrip with a three-game series against the Chicago Dogs beginning Monday. First-pitch time is set for 7:05 p.m., and pregame coverage will begin at 6:35 p.m. on ESPN Lincoln 101.5 FM/1480 AM.
