SIOUX CITY TAKES MARATHON RUBBER GAME
Explorers Hold Onto Lead After Two Hour Rain Delay
Cleburne, TX (June 26, 2022) – The Sioux City Explorers won the rubber game from the Cleburne Railroaders 7-6 in a game that ended just shy of midnight in Texas after enduring an almost two hour rain delay.
Sioux City kicked off the scoring in the second on a Blake Tiberi sacrifice fly to jump ahead 1-0.
The X’s did most of their damage in the third with a four run rally. After a strikeout to begin the inning, Sioux City collected six consecutive singles. Try Martin and Nate Samson produced RBI with singles and Tiberi added another two RBI to his total with a single to right giving Sioux City a 5-0 lead.
In the fourth, Cleburne mounted a comeback, Chase Simpson who led off the inning with a walk scored on a Chuck Taylor double. After a walk loaded the bases with one out Hunter Wolfe drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right and a Nick Shumpert single made it 5-3 Sioux City. The Explorers got out of the jam with a strikeout of Zach Nehrir to leave the bases loaded and the lead intact.
Tyler Beardsley tossed four innings allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks and received a no decision.
The Explorers responded to the Cleburne rally with some two out magic in the fifth a two out single from Zack Kone was followed by a Shane Podsednik double. Chase Harris then drove both runners home with a single to left to make it 7-3 Sioux City.
Railroaders starter Kody Bullard (3-4) took the loss as he went four and two-thirds innings allowing seven runs on twelve hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Max Kuhns (1-4) was awarded the win as he tossed two scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts.
In the middle of the eighth the teams encountered a one hour and fifty-five minute weather delay, it began as a lightning delay that then progressed into a full blown rain delay.
When play resumed Cleburne began the comeback march. Chuck Taylor led off the eighth with a home run to make it 7-4. Hunter Wolfe, who reached on an error, scored when Nehrir dove into first for an infield single to make it 7-5 Sioux City. Cleburne however stranded the tying run on base.
In the ninth Thomas McIlraith who navigated the eighth started off the inning with a pair of outs. But a Taylor triple, which completed the cycle for him, continued the game. Jacob Bockelie followed with a double to left to bring Taylor home making it 7-6 and set up the tying run at second. McIlraith however left the tying run on with a strikeout to cap off the marathon victory.
Sioux City now returns home for the start of a seven game home stand after a day off on Monday. They will face the Sioux Falls Canaries for the start of a three game series on Tuesday at 7:05.