SIOUX FALLS, SD -- The Lincoln Saltdogs beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 3-1 in 10 innings on Monday night before a sellout crowd of 4,656 at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Lincoln (13-11) won the opener of the three-game series and snapped the Canaries’ three-game winning streak.

A tremendous outing by Canaries starter Ben Moore went spoiled.  He tossed nine innings but yielded the tying run when Stephen Douglas, who doubled to lead off the ninth, scored on a wild pitch. Moore scattered six hits while not walking anybody and fanning six.

The Canaries (11-14) struck first in the pitcher’s duel with Steve Domecus’ solo home run in the seventh inning off Saltdogs starter Moises Melendez.

In the 10th inning, Lincoln’s Brad Payne reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second base. He then scored on a single by Yasel Gomez and a subsequent fielding error. Douglas doubled home Gomez two batters later off Canaries reliever Alan DeRatt (0-1). DeRatt suffered his first loss while giving up his first earned runs of the year.

The Canaries put the winning run at third base in the bottom of the ninth with one out when Cory Morales and Domecus had back-to-back singles, but Lincoln reliever P.J. Zocchi (2-0) struck out Kevin Dultz and induced Anthony Trajano to fly out to end the threat.

R.J. Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 10th inning to earn his league-leading ninth save. The Lincoln bullpen pitched three shutout innings following a strong seven-inning start from Moises Melendez, who allowed one run on five hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Game two of the series is at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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