SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2023
By Austin Thomas
CANARIES END EXPLORERS WIN STREAK
SIOUX CITY OUTHIT IN OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – The Sioux City Explorers’ (20-22) three-game win streak ended Wednesday night against the Sioux Falls Canaries (18-25) as they fell 10-7 in Game Two of the Siouxland Series. The X’s three home runs weren’t enough to overcome the high-powered offense of the Canaries, who also had three home runs, including a grand slam.
The Canaries got on board early, scoring the first runs behind a Jabari Henry three-run homer off X’s starter Trenton Toplikar (1-1) that sent Sioux Falls Darnell Sweeney and Wyatt Ulrich home, giving the birds an early 3-0 lead.
Sioux City fought back in the second, cutting the deficit to one run as Explorers Matt Lloyd scored in front of a Miguel Sierra homer to left field off Canaries starter Ty Culbreth (2-4), cutting the Canaries lead to 3-2. The X’s added on two more runs in the third when Chase Harris crossed home on a Vince Fernandez two-run shot off Sioux Falls Culbreth over the right field foul pole, giving Sioux City the 4-3 lead.
The Canaries soared back in the fifth when Sioux Falls’ Sweeney, Jordan Barth and Henry loaded the bases for a Mike Hart grand slam off Explorers Toplikar, retaking the three-run lead 7-4.
The X’s bit back in the sixth, cutting the deficit down to one with Daniel Perez and Wilfredo Gimenez going home on a Chase Harris two-RBI single off Canaries reliever Seth Miller, making it close at 7-6.
Sioux Falls Sweeney and Hunter Clanin both touched home plate in the eighth inning after Barth doubled off Sioux City’s Brandon Brosher, making it 9-6 Canaries. Explorers Wilfredo Gimenez brought it closer in the bottom of the inning, knocking a leadoff homer off Canaries Brady Stover, making it a 9-7 ball game.
In the top of the ninth, Sioux Falls Hart hit his second homer of the game off X’s Brosher, re-extending the Canary lead to three,10-7. Sioux Falls righty Charlie Hasty (9) came into the game in the ninth, locking down the Explorers in a perfect inning and earning the save.
The Explorers will face the Sioux Falls Canaries in the final game of a three-game series Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at Mercy One Field at Lewis and Clark Park. Tickets for the season can be purchased online at XSBaseball.com, in person at the Lewis and Clark Park Box Office or by calling 712-277-WINS. You can catch all the X’s action on aabaseball.tv and on radio at KSCJ 94.9 FM and 1360 AM.