SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2026
EXPLORERS BREAK OUT TO AVOID SWEEP WITH 11–3 WIN
MERTENS AND KNOWLES LEAD THE WAY
By: Andrew Della Piana
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Sioux City (39–44) avoided the sweep on Thursday night, rolling past Fargo‑Moorhead (44–39) with an 11–3 victory behind a six‑run knockout inning.
Manager Steve Montgomery liked the approach against RedHawks starter Matt Walker, “We had a good plan and took advantage of the opportunities we were given tonight.”
The Explorers grabbed their first lead of the series in the second when D’Shawn Knowles doubled to left to make it 1–0.
Sioux City added three more in the third. The first three batters reached, setting up a pair of sacrifice flies and another RBI from Knowles to push the lead to 4–0.
Fargo‑Moorhead answered in the fourth, getting to Mertens the second time through the order. Matt Kroon and Juan Fernandez each drove in runs to cut the lead to 4–2.
In the fifth, Henry George opened the inning with a solo homer to right for his 10th of the season to extend the lead to 5–2.
The RedHawks responded in the sixth on an RBI double from José Sermo, playing for the first time in the series after missing three games with a knee issue, trimming the deficit to 5–3.
Mertens finished with his third straight quality start, allowing just three runs across six innings.
Sioux City broke the game open in the bottom half.
The Explorers erupted for six runs on four hits, with RBIs from Zac Vooletich, George, Alberto Osuna, and Knowles, who capped his four‑RBI night as the lead ballooned to 11–3.
The bullpen slammed the door. Tahnaj Thomas, Nate Gercken, and Ryan Beaird combined for three perfect innings, retiring all nine batters they faced.
Sioux City opens a three‑game set with Winnipeg on Friday at 6:35 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:05 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. Tickets for all remaining games are available now by calling the Explorers front office at 712-277-WINS or online at xsbaseball.com.
Notes from the Booth with DV:
-Nate Mertens tossed his third quality start and the team is 3-0 in those starts.
-Henry George reached base for the 23rd straight game.
-The season finished at 6-6.
-Sioux City is 9-9 in August.
-Sioux City dropped is 21-23 at home this season.
-Alberto Osuna is 16-for-32 in his last eight games.
-Sioux City was 3-for-3 in stolen bases and stole nine in the series and 45 in 12 games against Fargo.
-The Explores trail Sioux Falls by three and a half games and do not own the tie breaker for the final playoff spot.
-Pitcher Jarod Wright pitch ran for Yorman Rodriguez in the sixth.
–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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