SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2026
ERRORS COSTLY IN 2-1 LOSS TO KANE COUNTY
OTANO TOSSES ANOTHER QUALITY START
By: Andrew Della Piana
GENEVA, IL – Four errors spoiled a brilliant outing from Peniel Otano as Sioux City (15-19) fell 2–1 to Kane County (17-14) on Saturday night.
The X’s drop to 2–8 in one‑run games this season.
Offense was scarce early, the two teams combined for just four hits and five stranded runners through three innings, with only one man reaching third.
The Explorers broke the scoreless tie in the fourth when Alberto Osuna launched a solo home run to left‑center, giving Sioux City a 1–0 lead.
But the bottom half unraveled.
With a runner on second and two outs, a groundball rolled against the shift and Jackson Van De Brake’s throw to third sailed out of play, allowing Claudio Finol to score. It was the Explorers’ second error of the inning and third of the game, and it tied things at 1–1.
Otano kept the game even in the sixth, stranding a runner at third after a mound visit from manager Steve Montgomery, then finishing seven innings with just one unearned run, two walks, and four strikeouts.
It was his fifth quality start in seven outings.
But the eighth inning proved costly.
A leadoff walk against Ryan Beaird turned into trouble when his throw to first sailed over Braulio Vásquez, putting runners at second and third with nobody out for Sioux City’s fourth error of the night.
Trey Morrill entered in relief, but Charles Mack lifted a sacrifice fly to right to give Kane County a 2–1 lead.
The X’s got the tying run on base in the ninth, but Jake Gozzo closed the door for his fifth save.
Sioux City finishes the three‑game set at Kane County on Sunday. First pitch for game three is at 1:00 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. on KSCJ 94.9 FM and 1360 AM. Fans can also watch every American Association game this season on the league’s streaming platform at aabaseball.tv.
Notes from the Booth with DV:
-Peniel Otano tossed his fifth quality start and has not allowed an earned run in his last two starts over 16 innings.
-The X’s dropped to are 9-9 on the road this season.
-Alberto Osuna hit his team leading eighth home run.
-The X’s were retired on the first pitch swing in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th innings.
-Sioux City is 2-8 in one run games.
-The X’s Are 4-3 on Saturday.
–ABOUT THE SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS: The Sioux City Explorers are a proud member of the American Association of Professional Baseball in Sioux City, IA. The Explorers play their home games at Security National Bank Field at Lewis & Clark Park. For more information, please visit xsbaseball.com and follow the team on Twitter at @SiouxCityXs and on Facebook at facebook.com/SiouxCityExplorers.
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