The Lincoln Saltdogs won their seventh in a row on Monday, beating the St. Paul Saints 4-1. Lincoln gets to within five games of .500 now at 19-23 on the season. Saltdogs starter Jim Paduch (3-3) pitched seven scoreless innings while giving up just three hits. Great starting pitching has been a key for Lincoln during this winning streak.
Paduch walked three and struck out five, earning his first win in exactly one month. St. Paul starter Brandon Kintzler (6-2) entered the game with a 2.14 ERA, but Lincoln got to him for four runs on nine hits in six innings.
Phil Hawke hit a two-run home run to lead the offense. St. Paul tried to mount a comeback in the ninth. They led off with two singles and then with Chris Thompson onto close, St. Paul put runners on the corners with a force out and scored on a wild pitch. After Thompson surrended a walk to bring the tying run to the plate with only one out, Thompson retired the final two batters on harmless flyouts to earn his fourth save in a Lincoln uniform, and 14th of the year overall.
