712.277.WINS (9467)

Gary Southshore, IN- The Sioux City Explorers offense exploded for an even twelve runs on sixteen hits to blowout Gary Southshore 12-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Sioux City scored the first runs of the game in the third inning. X’s left-fielder Derrick Robinson knocked in the first run with an RBI single. The second run of the inning scored on a sacrifice-fly hit to center by Noah Perio, scoring the runner from third. The third run scored on an RBI-groundout dribbled to the shortstop by Nate Sampson to score the runner from third base.

Gary Southshore answered with a couple runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Railcats Tillman Pugh smashed a two-run home run to cut the lead to 3-2 after four innings of play.

The Explorers went on to plate three more runs in the fifth and seventh inning. X’s second baseman had two more RBI on the day, knocking in a run in the fifth inning on a 6-3 groundout, and scoring another run with an RBI double ripped to right field. X’s shortstop Nate Sampson later scored Perio with a base-hit single, extending their lead to 6-2.

The Railcats cut the lead to three runs in the eighth inning. Brennan Metzger reached first on a hit-by-pitch, advanced to second with a base-on-balls and scored on an RBI single by Railcats catcher Jose Gonzalez, cutting the lead to 6-3 after eight innings.

Sioux City exploded for six huge runs in the ninth inning off six hits and three errors, giving the X’s thirteen runs on the day to blowout the Railcats 13-3 at U.S. Steel Yard.

Explorers right-hander Cody Forsythe (2-2) received the win for Sioux City, allowing two runs on four hits while recording six strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.

Railcats starting pitcher Karl Triana (2-2) was charged with the loss for Gary Southshore, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings. Railcats relief pitcher Manny Arciniega (0-0) allowed eight runs to score in only three innings pitched.

The Sioux City Explorers and Gary Southshore Railcats will wrap up their series on Sunday at U.S. Steel Yard, first pitch-2:10. For 2016 ticket information to Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark Park, call (712) 277-WINS or visit the X’s website at www.xsbaseball.com