KUHNS DOMINATES IN SERIES OPENING WIN

X’s Now One Win Shy of Postseason berth

Sioux City, IA (September, 2nd, 2022) – The Sioux City Explorers picked up a 3-1 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs to take the series opening win. With the victory Sioux City moves their magic number down to one, and are now a single win shy of clinching a postseason berth. 

The Explorers got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth. Gabe Snyder, who reached on a one out walk, went first to third on an Ademar Rifaela single to center. Rifaela got to second safely behind Snyder’s advance but the throw to second was thrown away to right field and allowed Snyder to score to give Sioux City a 1-0 lead. 

That was the only run charged to Saltdogs starter Greg Minier who received a no decision with a six inning performance allowing only two hits and five walks with nine strikeouts. 

Lincoln tied the game in the sixth after a walk and a double placed runners at second and third with no outs, Luke Roskam grounded out to short to tie the game 1-1. 

Explorers starter Matt Pobereyko took a no decision. He navigated five innings, allowed five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. 

Max Kuhns (4-6) finished the inning with a pair of strikeouts and the game. Kuhns earned the win by going four shutout innings allowing only two hits and did not issue a walk. He struck out a season high eight in his four frames. 

Sioux City retook the lead in the seventh. Dylan Kelly led off the inning with a single and scored on a third error of the game for the Saltdogs to give the X’s a 2-1 lead. 

Kelly gave Sioux City an important insurance run in the eighth with a two run single that scored Ademar Rifaela. 

Taking the loss for the Saltdogs was RJ Freure (1-1). He tossed an inning and allowed an unearned run on a hit with two strikeouts and no walks. 

The Explorers can clinch a postseason spot with a win on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 pm. Right-hander Kevin McCanna (10-5, 4.63) gets the ball for Sioux City and righty Zach Keenan (5-3, 5.45) will take the hill for Lincoln.