EXPLORERS FALL IN LATE BACK AND FORTH BATTLE
Teams Swap Late Leads, Goldeyes Take Game
Sioux City, Iowa (July 2nd, 2022) — The Sioux City Explorers dropped the second game of the series to the Winnipeg Goldeyes by a final of 9-7-
The X’s struck first again to get on the board before their opponent for a sixth consecutive game. The four-run second inning started with a solo home run from Danry Vasquez, his first Lewis and Clark Park. The X’s continued the assault with five consecutive singles. RBI singles from Tiberi, Rando and Amaral capped off the rally at four runs to give Sioux City a 4-0 lead.
Winnipeg grabbed a run in the third on Ian Sagdal’s RBI single to make it 4-1.
Sioux City starter, Tyler Beardsley took a no decision. He went five innings and collected seven strikeouts while allowing four hits, one run, and four walks.
Goldeyes starter Landen Bourassa also took a no decision. He threw six innings while collecting five strikeouts, and gave up nine hits, four runs, and two walks.
In the sixth, it was the Goldeyes who rallied for four runs. Raul Navarro hit a double to put both David Washington and Logan Hill across home plate. Eric Rivera hit a ground ball up the middle that Sioux City almost turned into an inning ending out but the bang-bang play was called in Winnipeg’s favor and Navarro scored from second on the ground out handing Winnipeg a 5-4 lead.
But the back and forth battle had just begun, the X’s took back the lead in the eighth. After a Nate Samson one out double, Blake Tiberi hit a double to left field to bring Samson home with two outs. Zack Kone singled to center to score Tiberi and give Sioux City the lead 6-5.
In the ninth, The Explorers called upon Thomas McIlraith (3-2) who pitched two innings the previous night in the Sioux City extra innings victory. McIlraith allowed back to back one out walks before Max Murphy singled to right field tying the game at six. After a strikeout, Reggie Pruitt Jr singled to center to score the go ahead run, an error added a second run to the play giving Winnipeg an 8-6 lead. An error the following at bat allowed a fourth run of the frame to score giving the Goldeyes a 9-7 lead.
Travis Seabrooke (3-2) picked up the win in relief for Winnipeg.
In the bottom of the ninth, Sioux City made it interesting against Goldeyes closer Tasker Strobel (12) scoring a run on three hits. They got the tying run on and brought the winning run to the plate but couldn’t create some magic for a second consecutive night.
The third game of the series will take place on Sunday at 7:05 with a post game firework s show to follow the game. American Association All-Star pitcher, Patrick Ledet (2-1, 2.38), will start on the mound for the X’s. He will be opposed by the righty, Freisis Adames (4-3, 6-48).