The Lincoln Saltdogs dropped the opener of an important homestand on Thursday, falling 7-4 to Sioux City at Haymarket Park. The loss shrinks the Saltdogs’ lead over the Explorers in the American Association North to a single game.
Lincoln starter Vince Davis (4-4) struggled through the first two innings, allowing a total of five runs. Juan Camacho hit a two-out, bases-loaded bloop single to put the X’s on the board, and a wild pitch plated a third tally in the frame. Sioux City added a pair of unearned runs in the second inning, taking an early 5-2 lead.
The Saltdogs fought back in the third inning with a pair of runs against Sioux City starter Alexander Francisco (9-1). Albenis Machado hit an RBI double, and Mario Delgado followed with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to three.
Machado finished the night 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, in his first game as a Saltdog since the end of the 2005 season.