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Sermo Homers Late, Pitching Holds On

Lincoln, NE  - A dramatic game that was decided on just two swings of the bat goes the Explorers way 3-2 over the Lincoln Saltdogs winning the first two games of the series and setting up the chance of the three game series sweep on Sunday. 

It was a Jose Sermo three run home run in the eighth inning that won the game for Sioux City. After Dylan Kelly and Michael Lang reached on singles to put men aboard at second and third with two outs. Sermo came up with two outs in the inning and the Explorers trailing 2-0, needing just a base hit Sermo did one better crushing a ball the opposite way for a three run homer to put the Explorers on top 3-2. 

Lincoln had built a two run lead off the two run homer by Tyler Moore in the second inning. And it stayed 2-0 until Sermo’s blast in the eighth. 

The two run homer by Moore came off of Carlos Sierra and that was Sierra’s lone mistake of the night. Making his first true start in the rotation after spending the beginning of the season in the bullpen, Sierra tossed 5 1/3rd innings, allowing just 3 hits, walking 2, allowing 2 runs while striking out 9. 

Sierra received a no decision as did the Saltdogs starter John Brownell. Brownell was in control of the X’s lineup tossing 7 scoreless innings, allowing just 6 hits, a single walk and striking out 8. 

The X’s bullpen was its usual dominant self. Tyler Fallwell (5-2) picked up the win tossing 1 2/3rd perfect innings striking out three. Jose Velez and Nathan Gercken combined the pitch a scoreless eighth and Matt Pobereyko picked up his 12th save with a scoreless ninth. 

Sioux City will go for the sweep on Sunday with first pitch at 5:05 pm. Nick Tepesch gets the start for the Lincoln Saltdogs and will be faced by Max Duval of the Explorers.