SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Sunday afternoon’s ballgame at Sioux Falls Stadium turned into a battle of two bullpens, and the Lincoln Saltdogs came out ahead with a 7-4 defeat of the Sioux Falls Canaries.

Lincoln (27-22) rallied from a 4-3 deficit to score four unanswered runs off Canaries relievers in the last three innings, while the Saltdogs bullpen shut out Canaries over the final 3 2/3 innings and allowed only one base runner.

Daniel Carroll broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning by knocking Tyler Goodro with base hit, and David Espinosa had a run-scoring double for a 6-4 Lincoln advantage. Brian Embery hit a solo home run in the ninth for the final tally, and the Saltdogs evened the four-game series at one game apiece.

Lincoln reliever Stayton Thomas (2-1) earned the victory with 1 2/3 innings pitched. P.J. Zocchi struck out the Canaries (18-31) in order in the eighth inning, and R.J. Rodriguez tossed a perfect ninth for his 18th save, tops in the American Association.

Kirk Clark (0-2) took the loss in relief, allowing the two go-ahead runs and four hits in the eighth inning. Canaries starter Ben Moore left with a 4-3 after the fifth inning, but he did not factor in the decision. Moore struck fanned six batters to raise his league-leading strikeout total to 68.

Cory Morales and Marcos Rodriguez both extended hitting streaks to nine games for the Canaries. Rodriguez had two hits to take sole possession of third place for all-time hits in the American Association with 629.

Nick Van Stratten had his second straight three-hit performance of the series with two doubles and run scored.

Game three of the series will be at 7:05 p.m. on Monday at Sioux Falls Stadium. Former Canaries player Beau Torbert will be inducted into the Sioux Falls Pro Baseball Hall of Fame and his jersey will be retired in a pregame ceremony.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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