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Sioux City Battles Back Late But Not Enough

Sioux City, IA  - After a seven game road trip the Explorers were excited to get back home and play baseball in front of their home crowd, but the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks welcomed the X’s back rudely, defeating Sioux City 5-3. 

Fargo used a solo home run by Leobaldo Pina in the second and a four run third as all of their offense in this one. In the third it was a one out single and back to back walks that loaded the bases for Devan Ahart who doubled driving home two runs. A two run single from TJ Bennett with two outs in the frame made it 5-0 Fargo in the top of the third. 

All five runs were charged to Jason Garcia (4-1) who suffered his first loss of the season after collecting four wins in four starts. Garcia though pitched well outside of that third inning. Going five innings total, allowing the five runs on five hits, walking four and striking out six. 

Sioux City tallied a run in the bottom half of the third on a sacrifice fly from Nate Samson to make it 5-1. 

That’s how the game would stay most of the way, Carlos Sierra pitched well out of the bullpen for Sioux City, as in three innings of work he collected eight of his nine outs by strikeout and did not allow a single hit. 

Sioux City was unable to do much against Fargo starter Sebastian Kessay (3-0) as he went six innings of one run ball, allowing just three hits, walking five and striking out four. 

Sioux City would make it interesting in the late innings. In the eighth Samson reached on a dropped third strike. And a single by Jose Sermo and walk to Dexture McCall loaded the bases with one out. Drew Stankiewicz hit a chopper towards first that was mishandled allowed Samson to score and a heads up base running play by Sermo allowed him to score from second and make it a 5-3 ball game. 

Geoff Broussard the former Sioux City Explorer was called on to make the four out save against his old club and did just that, but not without some dramatics. Sioux City would get the tying runs on base in the ninth but Broussard was able to end the game by striking out Samson and getting Sermo to pop out. 

Sioux City looks the even the series on Saturday as they take on the RedHawks for game two of the three game series. Sioux City will send Zach Jemiola to the hill, and the RedHawks will announce their starter tomorrow prior to first pitch at 6:05 pm. 

It will be Souvenir Saturday at the ballpark and the Explorers will be handing out free X’s logo baseballs to the first 500 fans through the gates thanks to MercyOne. And following the game there will be post game autographs.