Much Needed Victory Finishes Road Trip For X’s
Sioux Falls, SD (July 22, 2021) – The Sioux City Explorers got a much needed victory as they snapped out of a four game losing streak with a 11-2 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries on Thursday night.
With the game tied at two heading into the fifth inning the Explorers exploded for a five run frame to put the game out of reach. Chris Clare doubled to score Mitch Ghelfi from first to break the deadlock giving the X’s a lead they would not relinquish.
Jose Sermo reached via an error, moving Calre to third and a wild pitch scored Clare making it 4-2. After a walk to LT Tolbert the X’s collected three consecutive RBI singles from Zawada, Monge and Milligan to plate another three runs to finish off the five run rally, giving Sioux City a 7-2 lead.
The runs were charged to Ty Culberth (6-5) who was handed the loss as he went five frames with five of the seven runs being earned. He surrendered nine hits and three walks while striking out three.
The X’s in the bottom of the fifth turned to the bullpen as Max Kuhns (5-1) took the victory in relief. He ended the bottom of the fifth and a possible Birds rally with a strike ‘em out throw ‘em out. In total he went two innings of hitless baseball giving up only one base runner on an error while striking out three.
Sioux City scored two more in the sixth on a Sermo double and another two on a DJ Poteet pinch hit home run in the ninth inning. For Poteet the two run shot was the first of his professional career.
The Canaries were held scoreless through the final six innings of the game with the bullpen tossing five of those, as well as the Explorers collecting thirteen strikeouts in the ballgame.
Sioux City will now return home for a vital nine game homestead which will see the Houston Apollos, Winnipeg Goldeyes and Gary SouthShore RailCats all come to town. It will begin on Friday against the Apollos with first pitch set for 7:05 pm and Zach Hedges (5-4, 5.19) on the mound.