The Lincoln Saltdogs had not played the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks in the 2003 season, yet Fargo had already wrapped up the first half playoff berth in the Northern League's Western Division. Lincoln got a taste of what the rest of the league had seen, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Redhawks on Friday evening in front of 5,872 fans.
Both Fargo starter Greg Salvevold and Lincoln starter Doug Johnston kept their opponents scoreless through the 4th inning.
Lincoln dented the scoreboard first, gaining a 1-0 lead in the 5th.
Eddy De Los Santos singled, stole second, advanced to third on a ground ball, then scored on an Ian Church two-out single.
Lincoln's lead was quickly erased, as Ruben Salazar hit Johnston's first offering over the wall for his third home run of the season. The Redhawks put two more on the board in the seventh, using two doubles and one hit by pitch to take the 3-1 lead.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lincoln got a Mark Burke double and Paul Powell RBI single in the seventh to get within a run, but once again the Redhawks answered. They moved the lead to 4-2, then Lincoln's ninth-inning rally fell a run short.
The 4-3 final moved Fargo-Moorhead to 27-12, while Lincoln dropped to 19-21. Salvevold picked up the win, allowing two earned runs in 6Zc innings. Steve Montgomery pitched the final Xc innings without allowing a run to pick up his seventh save of the season.
Johnston pitched well, but took the loss. He gave up three earned runs over seven innings, striking out seven. His record falls to 4-3.
Paul Powell had three hits, and Mark Burke and Ian Church had two, to pace Lincoln. Eddie Gerald, Brian Sprout and Joe Mathis had two hits apiece for the Hawks.
The two clubs will meet up again tonight at Haymarket Park.
Rick Sander (3-1, 4.72) is scheduled to start for Fargo-Moorhead, and he will be opposed by Thomas Ford (3-1, 2.88) for Lincoln in a 7:05 game.
REDHAWKS LINCOLN
ab r h bi ab r h bi
ADVERTISEMENT
Mathis cf 5 0 2 2 Doskocil 2b 4 0 1 0
Salazar 3b 5 1 1 1 Smith, I. lf 4 0 0 0
Ward 2b 5 0 1 0 Warner rf 4 0 0 0
Weber dh 4 0 0 0 Burke dh 4 1 2 0
Sprout ss 4 1 2 0 Marin pr 0 1 0 0
Foley rf 4 0 0 0 Patton 3b 4 0 0 0
Gerald lf 4 1 2 0 Powell 1b 4 0 3 1
Goldbach 1b 2 1 1 1 DLSanto ss 3 1 1 1
ADVERTISEMENT
Mazer c 3 0 0 0 Smith, R. c 4 0 0 0
Salvevold p 0 0 0 0 Church cf 3 0 2 1
Sansom p 0 0 0 0 Johnston p 0 0 0 0
Moak p 0 0 0 0 Ochsner p 0 0 0 0
Montgomry p 0 0 0 0
Totals 36 4 9 4 34 3 9 3
RedHawks 000 001 210--4 9 0
Lincoln 000 010 101--3 9 1
ADVERTISEMENT
E--Patton. LOB--RedHawks 8, Lincoln 5. 2B--Mathis, Gerald, Burke, Church. HR--Salazar. HBP--Goldbach 2. SH--Mazer. SF--De Los Santo. SB--Sprout, Doskiocil, De Los Santo, Church. CS--Church.
IP H R ER BB SO
RedHawks
Salvevold W, 3-2 6Zc 6 2 2 0 2
Sansom 1Zc 1 0 0 0 2
Moak Xc 1 1 1 0 1
Montgomery S, 7 Xc 1 0 0 0 1
Lincoln
ADVERTISEMENT
Johnston L, 4-3 7 6 3 3 0 7
Ochsner 2 3 1 1 0 3
HB--Johnston 2. PB--Mazer.
Umpires--Home: Richard Katz, First: Jeff Graver, Third: John Sahlberg. Time--2:57. A--5,872.
