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The Sioux City Explorers fall to Amarillo with a score of 6-3 Sunday night, evening the series to two a piece. 

In the bottom of the first, X’s centerfielder Matty Johnson led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored off a 4-3 grounder hit by Rene Tosoni, to make it 1-0 to start the early innings for Sioux City. 

Amarillo tied it in the top half of the third on two hits and a walk. Thunderhead catcher Corey Bass smacked a one out double to put him in scoring position to later score off a Jason Martin RBI single to make it 1-1 after three. Amarillo took the lead in the top of the fourth off a Stephen Gartrell solo shot, to make it 2-1 after three and a half innings. 

In the bottom half of the fourth, Rene Tosoni reached base with a single, advanced to second and third off a Brock Kjeldgaard single and an error by the third baseman. Tosoni crossed home on the next at-bat to tie it, Noah Perio Jr slapped a single scoring Tosoni and moving Kjeldgaard to third base. Kjeldaard later scored off a 3-6-1 double play, giving Sioux City the 3-2 tilt. 

In the sixth, a ground rule double hit by Stephen Gartrell scored Jason Martin from second and tied it 3-3. Amarillo would take the lead in the eighth inning, a bases loaded single by Kyle Bellows scored the runner from third to give them a 4-3 lead. The Thunderheads put two insurance runs on the board in the top of the ninth, to go on to win it 6-3. 

The starter for Sioux City was right-hander Patrick Johnson (4-0), who would wind up with the no decision going 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, two walks while recording a season high nine strikeouts. Rob Wort (3-2) and Anthony Ferrara pitched in relief for the X’s, with Wort being charged with the loss allowing a run in 1.1 innings pitched. Amarillo starter Matt Larkins (5-1) went the distance Sunday evening allowing three runs on seven hits and a strikeout. 

X’s centerfielder had the hot bat for Sioux City recording three hits with a run scored and a double. Noah Perio Jr, Ryan Court and Ino Patron all recorded two hits in the contest. Amarillo’s designated hitter Stephen Gartrell had a huge night at the plate going 4 for 5, with two runs, two RBIs, two doubles and a home run.

The Explorers will head to Winnipeg to play a four game set on Monday vs the Goldeyes. For 2015 ticket information at Lewis and Clark Park, call (712) 277-WINS or visit the X’s website at www.xsbaseball.com