X’s TAKE FIRST GAME OF PIVOTAL SERIES
Team Effort Gives Sioux City Second Place
Cleburne, TX (July 16, 2021) – The Sioux City Explorers got a complete team effort in their 7-5 win over the Cleburne Railroaders to take second place for themselves.
Sioux City raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings as Chase Harris doubled to lead off the game and scored on a Jose Sermo ground out.
In the second the X’s hit the first two pitches of the inning for back to back home runs from Sebastian Zawada and Lane Milligan.
Cleburne battled back in the bottom of the frame as a run scored on a Hunter Clanin double. Clanin then stole third and scored on a throwing error attempting to throw him out to cut the X’s lead down to 3-2.
In the fourth after back to back one out walks, it was rookie DJ Poteet who delivered an RBI single and then Chase Harris who followed with a sacrifice fly out to center field to put Sioux City on top 5-2.
Cleburne however responded immediately to the X’s rally in the top half of the inning. They loaded the bases with two outs and scored when Noah Vaughan walked with the bags packed.
The walk knocked X’s starter Jonah Smith out of the game as he went three and two-thirds innings allowing three runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Max Kuhns would relieve Smith and strike out Osvaldo Martinez looking to end the threat.
Kuhns (4-1) ended up picking up the win in relief as he went two and one third innings allowing a run on two hits while striking out four and not walking anyone.
Cleburne made it a one run game again in the fifth when Zach Nehrir who singled with two out in the inning scored on a two out double by Chase Simpson to make it 5-4.
However this time it was the Explorers turn to answer a Cleburne rally as Sioux City plated two in the sixth to rebuild a three run lead. A pair of two out singles from Chris Clare and LT Tolbert pushed the X’s advantage to 7-4.
Taking the loss for Cleburne was Garrett Alexander (6-5) who went five and two-thirds innings allowing seven runs, all earned on six hits with six walks and six strikeouts.
Martinez scored in the seventh for Cleburne on a wild pitch and throwing error to trim Sioux City’s lead to 7-5.
Matt Quintana earned the first save of his professional career as he was able to get out of the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and picked up all three outs by strikeout.
The series will continue on Saturday with first pitch from The Depot set for 7:06 pm. Zach Hedges (5-3, 4.74) will be on the mound for the X’s, Cleburne has yet to announce their starter.