MAESTRI MARVELOUS AS ‘DOGS WIN 5TH STRAIGHT AT HOME
LINCOLN – Marvelouse Alex Maestri who needed just 100 pitches to throw a complete game as the Saltdogs downed the Sioux Falls Pheasants 7-2 at Haymarket Park Wednesday night for their fifth straight home win.
Maestri (7-6) allowed the two runs on four hits and needed eight pitches or fewer in five of the nine frames to book Lincoln’s first nine-inning complete game of the campaign.
The ‘Dogs struck for three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a Jorge Cortestwo-run double down the left field line.
Kurt Steinhauer, Cortes and Vance Albitz all had two hits and Pat Trettelbombed his second home run in as many nights.
Ben Moore (12-3) went six innings, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out 10 to take the loss. Moore set a new American Association strikeout record with 135 punchouts on the season.
The Saltdogs played an error-free game at Haymarket Park for the fifth time in the last six home games and have won seven of eight overall to climb right back into the thick of the playoff race.
The teams meet again Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. with the Saltdogs going for the series sweep. Jeremy Brewer (1-0, 3.60) is slated to start against Adam Cowart (5-6, 5.63). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.