SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2026
SIOUX CITY REBOUNDS IN NIGHTCAP TO EARN SPLIT
OSUNA SHINES IN GAME TWO
By: Andrew Della Piana
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Sioux City (44–48) split Saturday’s doubleheader with Kane County (50–41), bouncing back in Game 2 after being overpowered early in the opener.
Game 1 – Kane County 18, Sioux City 8
Kane County struck immediately in the first. D’Shawn Knowles lost a fly ball in the sun, allowing a run to score, and Jairus Richards followed with an RBI double for a 2–0 lead.
The Cougars exploded in the second, scoring seven runs on seven hits. Sam Dexter tripled home two, and Alex McGarry added a solo homer as the lead ballooned to 9–0.
Sioux City answered in the bottom half when Jackson Van De Brake continued his hot stretch, launching his third home run in a week with a two‑run shot to make it 9–2.
Kane County kept pouring it on in the third with six more runs, highlighted by a three‑run homer from Richards and another two‑run blast from McGarry. The Cougars teed off on Jarod Wright, extending the margin to 15–2.
In the seventh, Richards added his second homer of the game, and Zane Spinn followed with a two‑run shot to push the lead to 18–2.
Sioux City showed late life in the bottom of the seventh, scoring six. Zac Vooletich crushed a three‑run homer to left, and Braulio Vásquez added a solo shot, but Kane County took the opener 18–8.
Game 2 – Sioux City 4, Kane County 2
Kane County struck first again as Richards singled home a run in the opening inning, giving the Cougars a 1–0 lead.
Sioux City responded quickly. D’Shawn Knowles ripped a double into right‑center to tie the game, and moments later Alberto Osuna lifted a fly ball to center that Richards lost in the lights, allowing Knowles to score and giving the Explorers a 2–1 lead.
Kane County tied it in the third on Sam Dexter’s RBI single, but left the bases loaded.
Sioux City regained control in the fourth. Knowles reached to start the inning, and Osuna’s single to left was bobbled by Spinn, allowing Knowles to score for a 3–2 lead. Dillon Tatum followed with a long single to left, extending the advantage to 4–2.
Newcomer Derek West delivered in his Explorers debut, throwing two scoreless innings to earn the save.
Sioux City finishes the series with Kane County on Sunday at 4:05 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 3:35 p.m. on KSCJ 94.9 FM and 1360 AM. Fans can also watch every American Association game this season on the league’s streaming platform at aabaseball.tv. Tickets for all remaining games are available now by calling the Explorers front office at 712-277-WINS or online at xsbaseball.com.
Notes from the Booth with DV:
-Sioux City is 14-13 in August.
-Kane County leads the season series 3-2.
-The Explorers are one game behind Sioux Falls with eight to play.
-The X’s wore special Harley-Davidson jerseys in game two.
-Derek West made his Explorers debut picking up the save in game two.
-True rookie J.D. Rogers made his home debut at the plate for the X’s.
–ABOUT THE SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS: The Sioux City Explorers are a proud member of the American Association of Professional Baseball in Sioux City, IA. The Explorers play their home games at Security National Bank Field at Lewis & Clark Park. For more information, please visit xsbaseball.com and follow the team on Twitter at @SiouxCityXs and on Facebook at facebook.com/SiouxCityExplorers.
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