X’S TAKE RUBBER GAME BEHIND LEDET
Explorers Kick Off September With Win
Sioux City, IA (September, 1st, 2022) – The Sioux City Explorers got seven strong innings from starter Patrick Ledet and won the rubber game of the three game set from the Fargo Moorhead RedHawks 7-2.
After retiring the first seven batters he faced of the game Patrick Ledet ran into his only hiccup of the game in the top of the third. A walk to Alec Olund was followed by a double into the left field corner that scored Olund from first and gave Fargo a 1-0 lead.Manuel Boscan singled with two out to bring home Correa handing Fargo a 2-0 lead.
But the hit from Boscan was the final baserunner Ledet allowed. Ledet (6-4) retired the next 12 consecutive batters and picked up the win by tossing seven innings of two hit, two run baseball with seven strikeouts and a walk.
The X’s cut into the deficit with a run in the bottom of the third. Jack Kelly led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a Danry Vasquez fielder’s choice to make it 2-1.
The score remained that way until Sioux City took the lead in the sixth. Gabe Snyder doubled with one out and scored on an Ademar Rifaela base hit that tied the game 2-2. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, and a fielder’s choice put two outs on the board a wild pitch and a passed ball scored a pair of runs to give the Explorers a 4-2 lead.
David Feldman (6-6) was handed the loss for Fargo. He went five and one-third innings allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
In the seventh the Explorers walked the bases loaded with the first three batters to the plate. Snyder singled to left to drive in a pair and Miguel Sierra punched a sacrifice fly into center field to finish the scoring at 7-2 Explorers.
With the win, coupled with a Saltdogs sweep of the Canaries, Sioux City is two games ahead of the Saltdogs for the final playoff berth in the American Association postseason. For the Explorers, if they win two out of the four game series they will earn a playoff berth. If Lincoln wins three out of the four, the Saltdogs will earn the spot.
Game one of the series is set for Friday at 7:05 pm at MercyOne Field at Lewis and Clark Park. For Sioux City right hander Matt Pobereyko (2-1, 1.80) will start and lefty Greg Minier (6-6, 2.62) will take the bump for Lincoln.