EXPLORERS OFFENSE EXPLODES
Sioux City Scores Season High Twelve
By: Will Glocker
Sioux City, Iowa (June 29th, 2022) – In game two of the series the Sioux City Explorers struck for twelve runs on 15 hits in a 12-4 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries.
Chase Harris for a second consecutive night led off the first with a double, Trey Martin followed a batter later with a double to score Harris giving the X’s a 1-0 lead.
The Explorers kept the offense going in the second adding two more runs. With two outs, Nate Samson reached on an error and was driven in on a Tyler Rando double. After a second error of the frame Danny Amaral singled to score Rando and adding to the X’s lead 3-0.
Sioux Falls struck back with a run of their own in the third. After three straight singles Gavin Lavalley with two outs singled to score Angelo Altavilla making it 3-1 Explorers.
The Canaries cut down the X’s lead to one in the fourth. John Nester hit a one out solo homer to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Explorers answered that fourth inning Canary run with a run of their own in the bottom half. Nate Samson lead off with a solo shot of his own extending it to 4-2 Explorers.
For the Canaries, Tyler Garkow (0-3) went five innings allowing four runs, two earned. Garkow gave up seven hits, one walk and struck out two while taking the loss.
The X’s in the sixth grabbed three more runs. Tony Lanier walked three straight to open up the inning. Tyler Rando scored on a wild pitch from third, Martin singled scoring Amaral and Ademar Rifaela hit a sacrifice fly to score Harris to put the X’s ahead 7-2.
Tom Windle (1-2) pitched six innings getting the win. Windle gave up 10 hits and two runs but was also able to strike out eight Canary batters.
The X’s added five more runs in the seventh with another two out rally. After two quick outs, Sioux City collected six consecutive hits. Samson started a two out rally with a double and was brought home by a Rando single. Three more singles by Harris, Amaral and Martin kept the two out rally going. Rifaela doubled scoring the fourth and fifth run of the inning in Amaral and Martin to put the X’s up 12-2.
Sioux Falls gained two more runs in the ninth. Two walks and a two out double by Trey Michalczewski scored Angelo Altavilla and Wyatt Ulrich. Sioux City took the win 12-4.
The game three rubber match between Sioux Falls and Sioux City will take place at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday. Starting for the Explorers will be righty Zach Hedges (0-2, 4.98). The Canaries give the ball to lefty Ty Culbreth (4-3, 4.71).