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X’s Go Deep Three Times But Can’t Keep Canaries Down

Sioux Falls, SD  - Jose Sermo hit two long balls and Sebastian Zawada hit a two run shot, but that would be all the offense Sioux City would have as they lose for the second straight game to the Canaries 8-4. 

Sebastian Zawada hit his for a brief time team leading sixth home run of the season in the second inning with a man aboard to the the X’s their first lead of the weekend series 2-0. 

Sioux Falls answered right back however as Aly Lago singled and Clint Coulter doubled immediately threatening to tie the game. An Andrew Ely base knock brought home Lago, giving Ely his 5th RBI of the series. Taylor Jordan the X’s starter seemed as though he would get out of the inning after a quick ground out and strike out kept the game 2-1. But Brett Vertigan would hit a chopper back up the middle that Jordan made an attempt at and tipped off his glove. That tip knocked just enough momentum off the ball that Drew Stankiewicz was unable to get the out at first in time allowing the tying run to score making it 2-2. 

Taylor Jordan (3-6) in a start with extended rest tossed six innings, allowing eight runs, five of them being earned, on nine hits while walking two and striking out five. He would end up taking the loss for the Explorers. 

Jose Sermo hit the first of his two home runs in the top of the third as the solo blast to center gave the X’s the lead right back 3-2. 

Sioux Falls would take the lead for good in the fifth with a three run inning. After a lead off walk to Graham Low, Jordan Ebert and Kevin Taylor hit back to back singles, with Taylor scoring Low on his. Burt Reynolds was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Alay Lago scored to go ahead run on a base hit to left making it 4-3. And a ground ball to short by Clint Coulter produced an out but not the double play the X’s needed, allowing a run to score making it 5-3 Birds. 

That was enough for Luis Pollorena (3-1), the bullpen arm making his first start of the season went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits striking out five and walking one as he earned the win. 

But for Pollorena, the home run was once again his lone achilles heel as Jose Sermo answered the Canaries rally with his second long ball of the day.  Going the opposite way to right field to cut the deficit for Sioux City to 5-4. 

But the Canaries put the game away in the seventh. Scoring three times. A rare error by Nate Samson started the rally for Sioux Falls, and back to back base hits game the Canaries another run to make it 6-4. With runners at second and third, Ryan Flores the former Canary was called upon out of the pen for the X’s and recorded two outs. For a moment it looked like he would be able to escape the jam. He intentionally walked Ely to load the bases and go after Josh Rehwaldt. Rehwaldt made the X’s pay for that decision lining one into center field to drive home two and put Sioux Falls ahead 8-4. 

The Canaries bullpen pitched three scoreless innings, once stranding the bases loaded in the seventh with the X’s trailing just 5-4. 

Sioux City will look to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 1:05 pm. The X’s send Eric Karch to the bump while the Canaries answer with south paw Alex Boshers.