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Sioux City, IA - In the finale of a nine game home stand the Chicago Dogs spoiled the goodbye for the Explorers with the come from behind 2-1 victory in extra innings. 

In what was a pitchers duel for much of the game the Explorers got another fantastic start from their starter on the mound. This time it was Ian McKinney’s turn as he went 6 shut out innings for the X’s scattering 4 hits, and picking up 5 strike outs. 

McKinney wouldn’t get much run support though as on the other side Jared Carkuff making his fourth start of the year for the Dogs went 7.1 innings, allowed 1 run on 7 hits and struck out 4. 

The X’s had their chances in the game to open up a lead but never could. They twice loaded the bases with only one out in the inning but could not push a run across and would leave the bases loaded. With that happening once in the fifth and once in the eighth. 

Sioux City would get their lone run of the ball game in the sixth inning as Nate Samson reached on a one out single. He would steal second and a wild pitch would move him to third before Dean Green brought him home with a sacrifice fly to center field giving the X’s a 1-0 lead.

They would take that lead to the ninth but Chicago would mount their comeback against Explorers closer Eric Karch. Edwin Arroyo lead off with a walk followed by a Rubi Silva single with an error tacked on leaving runners at second and third and no one out. Trey Vavra then tied the game with a single to left. Karch would pick up a strikeout and then get the following batter to ground into an inning ending double play to send the game to the bottom of the ninth tied 1-1.

Once again in the ninth the Explorers had a chance to win the ball game. Blake Schmit lead off with an infield single. He would steal second and make his way to third base with two outs but Sioux City would leave him at third as the walk off run and send the game to extra innings.

In the tenth Chicago got a one out double from Matt Dean, it was his third hit of the night. They then got a two out infield single from Kenny Wilson and a walk from Arroyo against Keith Picht to load the bases with two outs. Silva would then lay down a push bunt up the first base line and would dive in head first avoiding the tag of the first baseman to bring home the go ahead run for Chicago.

In the bottom half of the frame the X’s would go down in order and Chicago came away with the extra innings victory. 

It was the first time that Chicago was able to win a game after trailing at the end of eight innings and the first time Sioux City lost a ball game that went to extra innings. 

The Explorers finish the nine game home stand with a 4-5 record and will now head north to Winnipeg and Fargo for a six game road trip. Game one of the road trip will be against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Friday night at 7:00.