LINCOLN, NE -- The Sioux Falls Canaries gritted out a 5-3 victory against the Lincoln Saltdogs on Thursday night to salvage a game in a three-game series and win the season series finale between the two teams.

Nick Van Stratten lined a double down the right field line with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, scoring J.P. Ramirez and breaking a 3-3 tie. One batter later, Cory Morales knocked Van Stratten home.

The two-run lead was enough for Kyle Ruwe (9-6), who finished his start with a scoreless seventh. Kirk Clark pitched a perfect eighth to set up Alan DeRatt's 17th save in the ninth.

Ruwe pitched well enough to beat Lincoln for the third time in as many starts, despite giving up 11 hits. After Reggie Abercrombie spotted Ruwe a three-run lead with a home run in the first inning, Ruwe allowed the bases loaded to start the bottom half but yielded just one run on a sacrifice fly. He walked one and struck out three in the game.

Lincoln tied the game on back-to-back solo home runs by David Espinosa and Curt Smith in the fifth inning, but Ruwe evaded further trouble. In the sixth, Van Stratten made a potential game-saving playing by throwing out Mike Coles trying to advance to third on a single by Espinosa to end the inning.

Abercrombie went 3-for-4 with his third home run and three RBI. He has collected an RBI in seven straight games.

Marcos Rodriguez singled in the seventh for his only hit but extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games, matching a team-high for the season.

Danny Meszaros (2-1) took the loss in relief for Lincoln.

The Canaries continue a two-week road trip with a three-game series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes, beginning at 7:05 p.m on Friday.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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