FARGO DOWNS X’S WITH NINTH INNING MAGIC
Sioux City’s Seven Run Fifth Proves Not Enough
Fargo, ND (August 2nd, 2022) – The Sioux City Explorers put together a seven run, two out rally in the fifth but it wasn’t enough as the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks walked it off in the ninth to win the ballgame 11-10.
After Fargo held a 2-0 lead through the first two innings the X’s got on the board with Trey Martin’s eighth home run of the year. His solo blast set a new career high and made it 2-1.
Fargo however went on a two out rally in the bottom of the fourth. A walk and a single led to Manuel Boscan driving in two with a double, and then scoring on Leo Pina’s double to give the RedHawks a 5-1 lead.
But it was the X’s who would have the more impressive two out rally. After a fly out and a ground out, Zack Kone innocently began a torrid stretch for Explorer hitting with a ground ball single into center. From there the next eight consecutive batters reached on a hit. Blake Tiberi drove in a run to make it 5-2. Martin doubled to pull Sioux City to within a run and then scored the tying run on a Danry Vasquez single. Gabe Snyder gave the X’s the lead with a base hit. Nste Samson added to the lead with a double, handing the X’s an 8-5 lead.
Samson’s double was the 104th of his Sioux City career tying him for the Explorers all-time career franchise lead with Nolan Lane.
That finished the night for Fargo starter Tyler Grauer who received a no decision allowing the eight runs on twelve hits over five innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
Fargo stormed back in the next couple of innings. Ben Livorsi smacked the first home run of his professional career, the two run shot pulled the Hawks to within one.
That spelled the end of the night for Sioux City starter Tom Windle. He also received a no decision as he allowed seven runs, six earned on seven hits through four innings with five walks and three strikeouts.
In the sixth, Rymer Liriano put the RedHawks in front with a three run homer to left, giving them a 10-8 advantage.
Sioux City battled back with a run in seventh on a Gabe Snyder solo homer and in the eighth on a Tiberi single to score Danny Amaral after his fourth hit of the game. Sioux City tied a season high with 17 hits in the contest.
After both teams stranded the go ahead runs at third in their respective eighth innings and Sioux City couldn’t get anything started in the top of the ninth it was Sam Dexter who led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left that was compounded with a throwing error that allowed him to reach second. After a pop out and a walk, Peter Maris smacked his fourth hit of the game, a double off the right-center field wall to score Dexter and walk it off for Fargo 11-10.
The Explorers and RedHawks will meet in game two of the series on Wednesday night at 7:02 pm. Righty Ma’Kahail Hilliard (0-1, 6-75) is on the bump for Sioux City and facing lefty Peyton Wigginton (5-2, 4.77) for Fargo.