LINCOLN, NE -- The Sioux Falls Canaries fell behind quickly on Tuesday night and dropped a 9-5 loss to the Lincoln Saltdogs to begin a three-game road series.

Ian Gac scorched a three-run home run in the first inning, and Lincoln never trailed.  Canaries starter Mitchell Clegg (4-5) was struck in the head later in the inning by a line drive off the bat of Tyler Goodro. Clegg left the game under his own power, but he took the loss giving up four runs, two earned, in just two-thirds of an inning.

The Canaries pulled to a 4-2 deficit on a sacrifice fly in the third inning and Marcos Rodriguez' solo home run in the fourth. But they squandered opportunities with two double plays in the fourth and fifth innings. Lincoln pushed the advantage to 9-2 through the seventh inning before the Birds (31-44) rallied for their final three runs in the eighth inning.

Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Reggie Abercrombie had his first multi-hit game, going 3-for-4.

Lincoln starter Pete Parise (9-5) held the Canaries to two runs, one earned, in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four.

The three-game series continues at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday at Haymarket Park.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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