SIOUX CITY, Iowa— A day after a rainout, the Sioux City Explorers (10-5) split a doubleheader against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (8-6). Pitching ruled the day for both teams as Jared Wetherbee (1-1) hurled a complete game shutout for a 2-0 X’s win in game one, and Sioux City’s offense sputtered in game 2, falling 4-1, despite outhitting the RedHawks
Fargo-Moorhead had a hot start in the opener, as Juan Fernandez and Alex Olund recorded back-to-back singles before Wetherbee retired the side. Left-hander Greg Minier (2-1) got the start for the RedHawks and was scoreless through four innings.
Jake Meyer led off with a single in the bottom of the fifth, and Austin Davis reached on an error. Meyer scored on Zac Vooletich’s sacrifice fly, and Davis scored on Luis Toribio’s ground ball to first base.
Wetherbee hasn’t phased the whole game and continued to get stronger as the game progressed. He faced Michael Hallquist, who represented the go-ahead run and struck him out to complete the shutout.
In game two, the RedHawks put runners on in the first inning again, and this time, they were able to cash in against Sioux City’s starting pitcher, Joey Murray (1-1). Robert Perez Jr. reached on a dropped third strike, which allowed Fernandez to score on the wild pitch. Perez then took off for second, and Kurtis Byrne went down, allowing Brendan Dadson to score from third base, giving Fargo-Moorhead a 2-0 lead.
The X’s countered in the bottom of the first thanks to an Abdiel Layer sacrifice fly brought in a run, cutting the lead to 2-1. That was all the offense Sioux City brought in game two.
The Explorers struggled offensively the entire game. They stranded ten runners and struck out 15 times, finishing the game one for 11 with ten strikeouts and runners in scoring position.
Fargo-Moorhead scored two runs in the third inning to extend the lead to 4-1, and that’s how the game ended.
It’s not that Sioux City didn’t have a chance to score. They brought the tying run to the plate in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings and were unsuccessful.
Fargo-Moorhead’s starting pitcher Orlando Rodriguez (1-0) picked up the victory, tossing four innings of one-run ball while the bullpen slammed the door.
The rubber match is set for tomorrow at 4:05 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.