712.277.WINS (9467)

Cleburne, TX - The Sioux City Explorers were able to beat the Cleburne Railroaders on Tuesday night in extra innings by a score 5-4 to win their ninth straight game. 

Sioux City got the scoring started in the second as Jay Baum started the inning with a double down the left field line. He would advance to third and then score on a David Kerian sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Sioux City. 

THe X’s would score again in the third without a hit oddly enough as they would load the bases on a couple of walks and a hit batter. Jose Sermo would then draw a walk to bring home a run to make it 2-0. But the X’s would run themselves out of the inning as Jay Baum flied out to left field, too shallow for Michael Lang to tag and score from third though he faked going home as if he was going to try but it didn’t fool Cleburne as he had planned it actually fooled his teammate Nate Samson who then tried to tag from second to third but ended up in a run down and tagged out as part of a double play. And a ground out would end the inning. 

Cleburne would cut the lead in half in the fifth as Angelo Gumbs reached on an infield single and then advanced to second on a throwing error by Samson at short and he would advance to third on a bunt single and then score on a double play to make it 2-1 Sioux City. 

That’s the only run that Justin Vernia would give up on the night for Sioux City as he got a no decision as he went 7 innings, allowing just 1 un earned run, on 5 hits striking out 5 and walking 2. 

The X’s would add some insurance runs in the seventh and eighth as in the seventh Michael Lang would crush his seventh homer of the year a solo shot, to make it 3-1 X’s. And they would score again in the eighth as Blake Schmit reached on an infield single, stole second and then scored on a Dylan Kelly 2-out single. Making it 4-1 X’s. 

In the eighth though Cleburne would come back with three runs and tie the game. The lead off man walked and then KC Huth doubled putting runners at second and third. Trevor Sealey brought in a run with a base hit and then Chase Simpson scored another on a fielders choice. Simpson would then reach second base as he stole second and then score on a Levi Scott base knock to tie the game 4-4. 

Both relievers would pitch perfect ninth innings for the X’s being Keith Picht in his return from the disabled list as he set down all three Railroaders that he faced earning him the win.

Sioux City would score the winning run in the top of the tenth as Jay Baum singled and Blake Schmit singled as well. Both would advance to second and third. Baum would then score on a wild pitch to make it 5-4 Sioux City. 

Eric Karch came in for the bottom of the tenth to collect his 17th save of the year and 12th save of the month of July. Though Cleburne would get the tying run to third base and the winning run to second Karch would get Levi Scott to ground out to third to end the ball game.

Sioux City has now won nine games in a row and will put that streak to the test again on Wednesday in the finale of the brief two game series against the Cleburne Ralroaders. As Ian McKinney will go for the Explorers against Michael Gunn for the Railroaders with first pitch set for 7:06.