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Sioux City, IA - The Sioux City Explorers were able to finish off a sweep of the Lincoln Saltdogs and the home stand with a 4-2 victory on Sunday night.

The X’s got off to a fast start in the first as Michael Lang and Jay Austin reached on back to back singles to put runners on first and second. Nate Samson collected his 51st RBI of the year on a base hit and Jay Baum padded his league lead in RBI’s with his 63rd on a sacrifice fly to left field making it 2-0 Sioux City.

Lincoln would cut the lead in half in the third as Ivan Marin worked a walk with one out and Jamey Smart brought him home with a double to make it 2-1 Explorers. 

In the fourth Randolph Oduber launched his fifth home run of the year a solo shot off of X’s starter James Dykstra to tie the game 2-2. 

Those were the only runs though that James Dykstra (6-2) would allow as he went 6 innings allowing just 2 runs, on 3 hits, striking out 4 and walking 3. For Dykstra it was his first win since June 19th as he had been battling a blister for most of the month of July. 

Sioux City responded quickly though to the recently tied up ball game as Dexture McCall lead off the bottom of the fourth with a double and would score on a Daniel Jackson double giving Sioux City a 3-2 lead. Jackson drove in another run in the sixth as Jay Baum had walked to begin the inning but he scored on a triple by Jackson to make it 4-2 Sioux City. Jackson ended up being a home run short of the cycle tonight though he only got three at bats in the game and went 3-3 with 2 RBI’s. 

All four Sioux City runs were charged to Joe Bircher (3-6) as he took the loss going 5 innings, allowed 4 runs on 8 hits striking out 3 and walking 2. 

The Explorers bullpen was once again fantastic as they shut out the Saltdogs for the remaining 3 innings of the ball game and Eric Karch picked up his 16th save of the year with a scoreless ninth finishing off the 4-2 win.

Sioux City will now have a day off on Monday before traveling to Texas for a six game road trip beginning with a game in Cleburne against the Railroaders on Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 7:06.