SIOUX CITY, Iowa— Through the first 11 games of the 2025 season, the Sioux City Explorers’ (8-4) pitching staff was the biggest strength. That wasn’t the case tonight as the offense picked up the slack to win the game 11-7, defeating the Gary SouthShore RailCats (2-9) and clinching a series victory.

Gary SouthShore picked up a run in the first as Austin Drury didn’t start with his best stuff. The X’s immediately responded with a three-run blast from Luis Toribio in the bottom of the inning, his second round-tripper in as many days.

RailCats starter Andres Diaz (0-1) made his season debut, and it was rough to say the least. He didn’t make it out of the third inning, as it turned into a bullpen game for both teams.

Gary SouthShore tied the game in the top of the second on RBI doubles from Baron Radcliff and Howard Rodríguez, but the X’s battled back in the bottom of the inning, plating two and taking a 5-3 lead.

Drury fired scoreless innings in the third and fourth while the X’s extended their lead to 8-3 in the same time frame.

A big inning materialized for Gary SouthShore at the top of the fifth when Jose Contreras knocked in two runs on a single, and Elvis Peralta drew a bases-loaded walk. The bases were still loaded with only one out, but reliever Roy Garcia (1-0) found a way out in his first appearance with Sioux City.

The X’s offense continued to score runs, scoring once in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. The unit finished the day with 11 hits, and each player in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit for the first time this season.

The Explorers scored a season-high 11 runs while yielding a season-high seven runs.

The RailCats battled in the ninth, as Jeremy Goins (Save 2) walked two batters with only one out. However, he struck out the next two hitters to finish the game.

The X’s will go for their first sweep of the   season tomorrow night and will have clinched a series victory in three of their first four opportunities.

Boxscore

This three-game set continues Thursday. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 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. More information is available by calling 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.