LINCOLN, Neb— The Lincoln Saltdogs (25-35) flipped the script on the Sioux City Explorers (38-22), capitalizing on a five-run second inning to secure a 6-4 win and snap a five-game losing streak. Sioux City’s late rally fell short, ending their four-game winning streak in the series opener.
Last time these teams met, the Explorers swept the four-game series and vaulted into first place. But tonight, a frustrated Saltdogs squad had a bone to pick, riding a five-game skid tagged Peniel Otaño (1-5) for five unearned runs in the second inning.
That’s all the Saltdogs needed. Lincoln tacked on a run in the third on Brody Fahr’s RBI single, but the offense could’ve curled up and taken a siesta for the rest of the game.
While Otaño struggled, Greg Loukinen (5-4) thrived. The lefty yielded two hits over the first five innings, racking up five strikeouts in the process.
The Explorers finally scratched a run across in the sixth via Josh Day’s RBI single, but they stranded two in scoring position, wasting their best chance of the day.
It may have been too little, too late, but Austin Davis manufactured his way around the bases in the eighth inning. The speedy center fielder reached on an infield single, stole second a pitch later, and teleported to third when LG Castillo airmailed the relay from first base on the pick attempt, which sailed wide into left field.
Henry George’s infield single plated Davis as the X’s inched closer, chasing Loukinen from the contest. The rookie right-hander Connor Langrell replaced him, but couldn’t stop the Explorers, who scored twice more in the frame.
Langrell was a lucky dog in the ninth, retiring the side as the X’s snapped their four-game win streak.
The Explorers continue the three-game set with Lincoln on Wednesday and finish the series on Thursday. All start times are 7:05 p.m. Sioux City returns home to play the Sioux Falls Canaries for a three-game set before the All-Star break. Ticket packages for the 2025 season are on sale now, including Full and Half-Season Tickets as well as 10-, 15-, and 25-game Flex Packs. For more information, please call the Explorers front office at 712-277-WINS. Stay tuned to the Explorers’ social media channels and the club’s website, xsbaseball.com, for all our news and updates.