LINCOLN, Neb. – Lucas Irvine, looking for his first win of 2013, threw a complete-game three-hitter, as the T-Bones beat Lincoln 6-1 Friday night at Haymarket Park.

Irvine — 0-2 in five starts this season — had been improving in recent outings, but not as good as he did against the Saltdogs. In fact, Irvine, who struck out six in the game, no-hit Lincoln for six innings, before Matt Forgatch and Tyler Goodro led off the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back base hits. The Saltdogs went on to score their only run of the game in the inning.

"I told Luke on Thursday night that, even though Lincoln has guys who can hit, he would have a big night against them because his fastball and location have been getting better with each start," said T-Bones manager Kenny Hook. "To walk only three guys and to hold them hitless until the seventh shows how good Luke was (Friday night) and how good he can be."

By the time Lincoln scored in the seventh, the T-Bones were in control of the contest. Kansas City got on the board first with a run in each of the first two innings. Then, leading 2-0 in the top of the fifth, Jairo Perez hit a two-run home run that scored Felix Molina. It was Perez’s club-leading ninth homer of the season. Two batters later, Matt Padgett launched a solo home run to centerfield, his eighth. 

Four Kansas City batters — Kennard Jones, Padgett, Brandon Jones and Molina — had two hits in the game, as the team racked a dozen.

The T-Bones and Saltdogs will continue their four-game series on Saturday night at Haymarket Park with first pitch scheduled for 7:05. Eric Gonzalez (1-0) will start for Kansas City. Moises Melendez (1-0) gets the start for Lincoln.

The broadcast can be heard on 1660-AM in Kansas City or online at tbonesbaseball.com, beginning at 6:50 p.m.