LINCOLN, Neb. (BVM) — The Lincoln Saltdogs ran their winning streak to four and improved to a season-best five games over .500 behind 7 1/3  innings of the two-run ball by John Richie and a big two-run home run by Ryan Long which broke a tie in the sixth inning of a 5-4 victory over the Houston Apollos on Wednesday at Haymarket Park.

The Apollos tied the game at two in the fourth inning with a solo shot by right fielder Aaron Takacs before the Saltdogs (37-32) broke the stalemate with Long’s two-run home run. Shortstop Josh Altmann added what would become a huge insurance run, lacing an RBI double in the right-center field gap to extend the Saltdogs lead to three runs in the seventh.

The ninth inning would get dicey for the Saltdogs with the Apollos putting the tying run on third with two outs. Closer James Pugliese worked around the trouble, stranding that runner and ending the game with a strikeout of left fielder Collins Robinson. Pugliese recorded his 19th save, with Richie earning the win while striking out a season-high nine batters.

“Coming down this important stretch, every game means a little more,” Pugliese said. “Tonight was a big win and we’ll try to do the same thing tomorrow night.”

Altmann’s double extended his on-base streak to 31, the third-longest such streak of the year in the American Association. The Saltdogs continued to stay hot on the Sioux City Explorers and the Cleburne Railroaders division lead. They’re 1 1/2 games back from the Explorers for third place and 2 games back from Cleburne for second place. The Saltdogs will look to finish the sweep of the Apollos on Thursday night.