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Montgomery Becomes Winningest Manager as X’s Take Series

Lincoln, NE (July 21st, 2022) - Steve Montgomery notches his franchise record 427th victory as the manager of the Sioux City Explorers with a 7-4 rubber game win over the Lincoln Saltdogs. 

Sioux City opened the scoring in the first with a RBI single from Danry Vasquez and a sacrifice fly out from Ademar Rifaela to take 2-0 lead. 

Lincoln tied the game in the third when a Hunter Clanin double to right scored a run and a ground out to second knotted the game up 2-2 but Lincoln left the go ahead run at third. 

The X’s quickly got back to work to rebuild their two run lead. Zack Kone doubled in the fourth to score Sebastian Zawada from first. And in the fifth Nate Samson’s two out single gave Sioux City a 4-2 lead. 

Both starting pitchers received a no decision with Kyle Kinman going seven innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. 

Tom Windle for Sioux City went six and one-third, allowed four runs, three earned on six hits with a walk and fanned four. 

In the seventh inning Lincoln once again tied the game. Patrick Caufield clobbered his first career home run. And a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Ryan Long tied the game at four as Randy Norris who reached on an error scored to tie the game. 

Once again the Saltdogs stranded the go ahead run at third base. Collecting the inning ending strikeout to keep the game tied was Max Kuhns who picked up the win in relief. He went an inning and two-thirds scoreless.

In the ninth, Sioux City took the lead immediately as Zawada hit the first pitch he saw over the right field wall to put the X’s on top 5-4. An infield single plus an error scored Shane Podsednik and a sacrifice fly from Martin handed Sioux City their largest lead of the night 7-4. 

Thomas McIlraith (12) picked up the save as he gave up a lead off single and then proceeded to strike out the side. 

With the win, Explorers manager, Steve Montgomery became the winningest manager in franchise history as he passed Ed Nottle who had held the record since 2007 after he managed the club for 10 seasons. This season is Montgomery’s eighth at the helm. He now has a career record of 427-330 (.564). 

Sioux City wins three of the five games in Lincoln and now continues their longest road trip of the season as they will travel to Milwaukee to face the Milkmen in a three game weekend series. The three game set begins on Friday night from Franklin Field with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm.