Saltdogs Win KC Series 2-1

LINCOLN, Neb. * The Lincoln Saltdogs used a four run rally in the eighth inning to even the season series with the Kansas City T-Bones on Thursday night. The Dogs were trailing 2-1 going into the eighth, but with the rally in the eighth they were able to pull out the 5-3 victory at Haymarket Park. Rodney Myers picked up his team leading 8th win of the season going eight strong innings, allowing two runs. For the second straight game Wes O'Brien came on in the ninth to pick up the save. Mike Cosgrove was charged with his first loss of the season.

With the win, Lincoln stayed a game ahead of the Schaumburg Flyers for first place in the Southern Division with 21 games to play.

The T-Bones broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning with three hits against Myers. Rafael Rodriguez hit a lead-off double and scored on a single from Ray Brown, his 55th RBI of the year. David Segui followed with an RBI single to center field, scoring Brown and extending the T-Bone lead to 2-0.

Lincoln struck right back in the bottom half of the inning. Three straight singles by Bryan Warner, Pichi Balet and Josh Patton got Lincoln on the score board against Viane. However, the Dogs weren't able to score another run. With runners on first and third with no one out, the next three Dogs were retired in order.

The scored stayed at 2-1 until the eighth inning when the Dogs broke the game open. With one out Albenis Machado doubled off Viane to start the rally. After the at-bat, Mike Cosgrove came in to replace Viane. Cosgrove allowed all three batters he faced to reach base and score two runs before he was relieved by Jonathan Krysa. In all the Dogs scored four runs in the inning to take the 5-2 lead.

In the ninth, the T-Bones challenged Saltdog reliever Wes O'Brien. The first two batters reached base in the inning and Cody Nowlin picked up a pinch-hit RBI single to right field to cut the Dogs' lead to 5-3. However, O'Brien was able to induce a pop-out by Chad Sosebee to finish the game and pick up the save.

The Saltdogs head back on the road for a three-game series with the Joliet JackHammers starting on Friday. Brian Rodaway is scheduled to start the first game of the series.

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