SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
July 2, 2023
By Austin Thomas
LINCOLN COMPLETES SWEEP
EXPLORERS DO NOT ANSWER SALTDOGS OFFENSE
LINCOLN, NEB. – The Sioux City Explorers (21-25) struggled to ignite the offense against the Lincoln Saltdogs (23-22) Sunday afternoon, losing 12-1. The Saltdogs swept the series and are now 2.5 games ahead of the X’s in the West Division standings after the matchup.
The Saltdogs struck first in the second inning when Lincoln’s Yanio Perez and Luke Roskam both came home on an Aaron Takacs three-run homer off Sioux City’s starter Mitchell Verburg (2-1), giving the Saltdogs an early 3-0 lead.
Lincoln scored again in the third inning when Saltdogs Will Kengor scored on a Yanio Perez double off Explorers Verburg, and Perez went home on a Nate Samson single off X’s Jared Wetherbee, who relieved Verburg on an apparent injury, making it 5-0.
Sioux City responded with a run in the fourth inning as Explorers Miguel Sierra scored on a Wilfredo Gimenez sac fly off Lincoln starter Zach Keenan (3-1), making it a 5-1 game.
The Saltdogs ripped the game open in the sixth inning when Lincoln’s Drew Devine and Marshall Awtry scored from a Nick Anderson double off X’s reliever Brandon Brosher, extending the lead 7-1. The Saltdogs added even more in the seventh inning as Conor Panas smoked a grand slam off Sioux City’s Carlos Diaz, sending home Perez, Roskam and Samson, extending their lead to 11-1.
Lincoln added a final run in the eighth inning when Saltdogs Kengor scored on an error from Explorers third baseman Matt Lloyd, the final score 12-1 in the series sweep.
The Explorers return home for a seven-game homestand starting Monday July 3 with a first pitch at 7:05 p.m against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Tickets for the season can be purchased online at XSBaseball.com, in person at the Lewis and Clark Park Box Office or by calling 712-277-WINS. You can catch all the X’s action on aabaseball.tv and on radio at KSCJ 94.9 FM and 1360.