712.277.WINS (9467)

The Sioux City Explorers won their third in a row Monday night with the 9-1 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs on “Pack the Park Night”. 

Matty Johnson reached first base on a walk to start off the bottom of the first for Sioux City. He then advanced to second on a stolen base and scored off an RBI double by Michael Lang to put up the first run of the game. The next-batter Rene Tosoni singled to advance Lang to third and put runners at the corners with no one out. American Association Player of the Week Brock Kjeldgaard scored the next run of the inning on a sac-fly RBI to centerfield that scored Lang. The X’s would score one that inning off and RBI single by Ryan Court. 

The Explorers would go on to score five more runs in the third off of four hits and three big errors by the Saltdogs defense. Noah Perio Jr knocked in the only earned run of the inning when he singled to score Rene Tosoni from third base. After three innings of play the X’s lead 8-0 over Lincoln. 

In the fifth inning, X’s second-baseman Ryan Court reached base safely on a one out single to start it. Matt Koch singled with two outs later in the inning to move Court to second base, which put him in scoring position for Dillon Usiak, who ripped an RBI single to plate Court and tack on the ninth and final run of the game for Sioux City. 

The Saltdogs managed to score one run in the ball-game in the sixth on a (4-3) RBI groundout by Steve Pascual that scored Brian Joynt from third base. Lincoln would finish with one run off eleven hits and three errors, while the X’s would score nine runs off twelve hits in the contest. 

Winning pitcher on the night was X’s starter Dustin Loggins. The right-hander went six innings, allowing one run off seven hits and five walks while striking out five. Eric Wordekemper and Jimmer Kennedy pitched the final three innings in relief for the Explorers. 

Saltdogs starter Shairon Martis was charged with the loss going five innings, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on eleven hits with four strikeouts. Right-handers Mackenzie King and Sean Keeler pitched in relief for Lincoln without allowing a run. 

Ryan Court, Michael Lang and Rene Tosoni both finished with double-digit hits Monday night. Second-baseman Court had a three hit night with an RBI and run scored while both Lang and Tosoni had two hits, two runs and a stolen base in the game. 

The Explorers and Saltdogs will play games two, three and four of the series on Tuesday-Thursday. For 2015 ticket information at Lewis and Clark Park, call (712) 277-WINS or visit the X’s website at www.xsbaseball.com