712.277.WINS (9467)

Karch Dazzles for X’s But Goldeyes Comeback Late

Winnipeg, MB - For the third straight game the Sioux City Explorers lose a tight one against the Winnipeg Goldeyes, this time by a final score of 3-2. 

It was a pitchers duel first and foremost and one that was won by Explorers starter Eric Karch. 

Karch was outstanding for the Explorers turning in his best effort on the young season. Karch tossed eight innings of shut out baseball. Rarely being tested by the Goldeyes. He struck out five in the ball game and allowed just five hits and a single walk. 

Karch was in control of the game from start to finish throwing 101 pitches with 66 of them finding the strike zone. And at no point in his start did Karch have multiple Goldeyes on base and held Winnipeg to no extra base hits. 

Winnipeg’s starter for the most part matched Karch throughout the night. Parker French went seven and two thirds innings, allowing two runs with one being unearned, allowing just five hits and striking out and walking three. 

The X’s were able to push those runs across in the top of the first. After a ground out to begin the ball game, Michael Lang hit a chopper up the middle that deflected off of French’s hand and went right to Wes Darvill the short stop, but his throw to first was low and Lang was safe to begin the rally. Nate Samson followed with a single. Jose Sermo then drove home Lang with a base hit and Drew Stankiewicz picked up his first RBI as an Explorer on a single to make it 2-0 Sioux City. 

That’s how the game would stay for almost the entirety of the contest until Winnipeg fought back in the ninth against X’s closer Matt Pobereyko. The first two batters were retired harmlessly enough but Josh Romanski battled in a tough at bat and kept the Goldeyes alive with a base hit to right. Willy Garcia smacked a double to left and a walk to new comer Kyle Martin loaded the bases with two outs and the X’s still leading 2-0. But Reggie Abercrombie was able to work a walk to bring home a run. And on a 3-2 pitch Dominic Ficociello played hero by lifting a ball into right field to score two runs and walk it off for the Fish. Winnipeg was able to score all three runs with two outs in the ninth. It was the second walk off win for Winnipeg in the series. 

The Explorers have now lost all three games in the series by a single run.

Sioux City will look to avoid the sweep on Thursday as they send Taylor Jordan to the mound, and the Goldeyes will throw south paw Kevin McGovern at the X’s. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm.