The Lincoln Saltdogs came up on the short end of a pitchers duel Wednesday, falling 3-2 to the Sioux City Explorers. Lincoln drops to 0-2 for the second half of the season.Lincoln starter Zac Cline (3-2) pitched a complete game, allowing just three runs on seven hits while striking out five, but an unearned run proved to be his undoing in the fourth inning. Cline had James Boone picked off of first, but Phil Hawkes throw to second was high, allowing Boone to steal the bag. Albenis Machado dropped the throw as well, letting Boone advance to third on the error.

Adam Hale scored Boone with a sacrifice fly, and that proved to be the final run of the night.Sioux City starter Nick Singleton (5-3) needed 127 pitches to get through eight innings, but he held Lincoln to two runs on just five hits. The Saltdogs drew first blood in the first inning, when Josh Burrus singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly by Phil Hawke.

Lincoln touched Singleton again in the third inning when Shea McFeely doubled, went to third on a groundout and scored on Burrus sac fly, but that would be the Dogs final run of the night.Lincoln missed two chances to score in the later innings.

In the sixth, back-to-back singles put runners on the corners with one out, but Singleton induced a popout and a groundout to get out of the inning. In the eighth, a walk, a double and another walk loaded the bases with two out, but Singletons last pitch induced another popout to end the Saltdogs threat.

Sioux City closer Brett Reid pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save.No Lincoln batter had more than one hit, and the Saltdogs had just five hits overall. Burrus and Hawke each earned their 30th RBI of the season.The Saltdogs will try to salvage the final game of the series Thursday night at 7:05. Righty Jim Paduch will make the start for Lincoln.