SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2026
SIOUX CITY TAKES OPENER 8-5 BEHIND TRUE ROOKIE POE
RIGHT-HANDER IMPRESSIVE IN FIRST START
By: Andrew Della Piana
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Sioux City (40–44) opened the three‑game set with an 8–5 victory over Winnipeg (45–38), powered by a highly impressive professional debut from Hunter Poe.
Manager Steve Montgomery praised the 22‑year‑old’s composure throughout the night, “I thought as the game went on his offspeed picked up, couldn’t have asked for a better debut from the young man.”
Poe delivered 6.2 innings, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs, and at one point retired 13 straight Goldeyes.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Henry George doubled and Alberto Osuna followed with a run‑scoring single to left for a 1–0 X’s lead. Wilfredo Gimenez lined a two‑run single to right to make it 3–0. Sioux City has now scored ten first‑inning runs across its last four games against Winnipeg.
In the second, George struck again, driving in two more to extend the lead to 5–0.
The Goldeyes cut into the deficit in the third. Peyton Holt singled home a run, and Ray‑Patrick Didder followed with a two‑run homer to left, trimming it to 5–3.
Sioux City rebuilt the cushion in the fourth. Osuna lifted a sacrifice fly for a 6–3 lead, and three straight walks issued by Arij Fransen forced home two more, pushing the margin to 8–3.
Poe’s run of 13 straight retired ended in the seventh on a single from Raphael Pelletier, Winnipeg’s first hit since the third. Jiandido Tromp followed with an RBI double to make it 8–4, but Poe exited to a strong ovation after a standout debut.
Pelletier added another RBI in the ninth to make it 8–5, but Sioux City closed it out cleanly to secure the opener.
Sioux City continues the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m., with pregame coverage at 5:35 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:
-Henry George reached base for the 24th straight game.
-Sioux City is 10-9 in August.
-Sioux City dropped is 21-23 at home this season.
-Alberto Osuna is 17-for-36 in his last nine games. (.472)
-The Explores trail Sioux Falls by two and a half games and do not own the tie breaker for the final playoff spot.
-Henry George recorded his 100th hit of the season and the fourth time in his four year career he has hit that mark.
-Wilfredo Gimenez has nine RBI in nine games.
-Hunter Poe became the 16th true rookie to make his professional debut this season with 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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