SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2023
By GMW Vaughan
LINCOLN SAYS ADIOS TO X’S IN EXTRAS
SIOUX CITY COMES BACK LATE BUT CAN’T HOLD ON
LINCOLN, NE—On a Fiesta-themed sunny Saturday evening in Lincoln, the Saltdogs (14-17) walked off extra innings winners over the Sioux City Explorers (15-18) 5-4 in 10 innings.
After the Explorers failed to capitalize in the top of the tenth playing the American Association tiebreaker with the last out of the previous inning starting at second base, the Saltdogs put Carson Maxwell on second as Nate Samson reached on an infield single, followed by an intentional walk for Luke Roskam that loaded the bases. A one hopper to the mound off the bat of Marshall Awtry was fielded by Sean Rackoski who threw home to Tyler Rando, tagging Maxwell out at home but sending Roskam to first, the bases still loaded. Zurbrugg hit the magical final single that got through the glove of Ortega, scoring Samson and ending the game in a 5-4 walk off for Lincoln. Steffon Moore (3-0) grabbed the win for the Saltdogs, and Sean Rackoski (4-3) got credited with the loss for the Explorers.
Zane Zurbrugg turned the heat on early with a single off Explorers (15-18) starter Austin Drury. Attempting to steal second, the throw by catcher Tyler Rando went over the head of Delvin Zinn, sending Zurbrugg to third. After a walk by Drew Divine, the attempt to run him down failed, leaving Saltdogs on the corners. Nick Anderson followed with an RBI single that landed just inside the foul line, scoring Zurbrugg and giving the Saltdogs an early lead, 1-0. Yanio Perez advanced to first on a hit-by-a pitch, and a Will Kengor sac fly moved Anderson to third. Carson Maxwell’s single popped up in the infield, but Zinn misread the play and missed the ball, scoring Anderson and extending the Saltdogs lead to 2-0 at the end of the first inning.
Despite the hot salsa in the concourse and sunny skies, bats stayed cold through the sixth inning, but early in the seventh, a walk by Jack Kelly heated up the Explorers bats. Delvin Zinn singled, followed by a Chase Harris sac bunt that moved Zinn to second and Kelly to third. Jake Ortega’s hit sent Kelly home, but he got tagged out at home. John Nogowski advanced to first, but an error by right fielder Nate Samson advanced Nogowski to second and scored Jake Ortega and Delvin Zinn, tying the game 2-2 in the seventh.
In the home half of the seventh, the Saltdogs answered as Awtry advanced on a walk and moved to second on a balk by Drury. Zurbrugg and Drew Devine also drew walks, bringing Brandon Brosher to the bump for Drury, but wild pitches helped the Saltdogs capitalize as Zurbrugg advanced to third and Awtry scored, regaining the lead for the Dogs, 3-2.
In the eighth, Daniel Perez singled off Saltdog reliever David Zoz. Miguel Sierra followed with another single, and Jack Kelly advanced to first after he got called out at first by the plate umpire, but the call was reversed, and he went back to first, loading the bases for the Explorers. Matt Cronin came in on the mound for Zoz, but Delvin Zinn couldn’t bring anyone home, ending the eighth inning down 3-2.
Chase Harris kept the Explorers hopes alive, opening the ninth inning with a single, but the two-run longball by John Nogowski put the Explorers back on top in the ninth, 4-3.
After a quick top of the ninth, in the bottom half Zane Zurbrugg reached base on a single off X’s reliever Sean Rackoski after the ball rolled past both Jack Kelly and Chase Harris. Divine followed with another single, putting the Saltdogs on first and second with no outs. Rackoski struck out Nick Anderson and Yanio Perez, but Will Kengor doubled, scoring Zurbrugg and tying the score 4-4 and sending the game into extra innings.
The Explorers continue the nine-game trip with the final game of the three-game series Sunday afternoon in Lincoln. Game time is set for 1:05 from Haymarket Park. Sioux City returns home Tuesday, June 27 for the first game of a three-game series with the Sioux Falls Canaries. 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 AM.