Win Streak Snapped at Five Games

LINCOLN, Neb. - For the first time the last six games, the Lincoln Saltdogs couldn't get their offense going as they fell 6-2 to the Edmonton Cracker-Cats. Gary Hogan took the mound for the Dogs and took the loss. He went only 1 2/3 innings and gave up three earned runs. Mike Kusiewics picked up his fifth win of the year and stayed undefeated in the 2005 campaign. He went 5 1/3 innings and allowed only 1 earned run.

The Cracker-Cats pushed a run across in the top of the first inning for the first time in the series. A pair of walks from Hogan started the inning for Edmonton. Derek Patterson was able to steal second after he drew the free pass and advanced to third after the throw from Kevin Sullivan rolled into center field. With runners on the corners Jeremy Ware hit a fly ball into left field that Mike Goss caught and he was able to double up Chris Becker at first, but not before Patterson scored for Edmonton.

Edmonton stayed patient at the plate in the second and were able to draw another two walks. Brandon Kaye and Dan Marshall Jr. both walked to start the inning and after falling behind 0-2, Aharon Eggleston hit a bloop single to left field scoring Kaye. The Cats continued to hit Hogan as Stubby Clapp line a double to the gap in left-center field, clearing the bases and chasing Hogan from the game giving way to reliever Kyle Ruwe.

It was three runs in three straight innings for the Cats after a bloop single from Kaye drove in the fifth run of the game for Edmonton. Becker started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a ground out before Kaye's hit. Their five run lead was the biggest lead by the Cracker-Cats in their series against Lincoln.

The Dogs finally broke through Kusiewics in the fourth inning to score their first run of the game. Pichi Balet led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Kevin Sullivan picked up the RBI on a hard hit single to center field.

For the second straight inning, Lincoln was able to plate a run. A lead off single from Suarez started the inning and he came around to score after Bryan Warner grounded out and picked up his 53rd RBI of the year.

In the top of the sixth inning, Ruwe retired the Cats in order however after he struck out the first baseman Brandon Kaye, Kaye argued the call with home plate umpire Todd Shield and he was ejected from the game.

Edmonton used a lead off triple in the seventh inning to extend their lead over the Saltdogs. Aharon Eggleston hit a hard shot to left center and came around to third base, his second triple of the year. The next batter Chris Hall drove him home with a single giving Edmonton a 6-2 lead.

Lincoln hits the road on for a three game homestand against St. Paul starting on Friday night. The Saltdogs will send Michael Kesten to the mound for the 7:05 p.m. start against the leaders of the Southern Division.

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