Samson RBI Completes Explorers Comeback, 6-5
Sioux City, IA – It has been five games now between the Sioux City Explorers and Winnipeg Goldeyes. And outside of a game decided by a complete game shut out by Taylor Jordan, all of the contests between the two long time rivals have been decided by the slimmest of margins, a single run. And that was no different on Tuesday night when the Goldeyes rolled into town and the Explorers came away with the victory 6-5.
Nate Samson was the hero for the Explorers in this one as he went 3-5 with a pair of RBI’s and none was bigger than the RBI base hit he had in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out. With the game tied 5-5 after Marcus Crescentini loaded the bases with walks, Samson battled and was able to fit a bloop single down the right field line to put the Explorers ahead for the first time all game.
The X’s had been battling back all game long. After Winnipeg took a 3-0 lead off the strength of a two run home run by Tyler Hill in his first Goldeyes at bat. The X’s again on a base hit by Nate Samson cut the deficit to 3-1. In the second the Explorers scored a pair of runs to tie the game 3-3 on an RBI single from Sebastian Zawada and a Kyle Wren fielders choice.
Winnipeg once again jumped out in front this time in the fifth, thanks to the second long ball of the year from Dominic Ficociello to go ahead 5-3. But again it was the Explorers battling back in the home half of the frame thanks to a two out, two run triple by Dexture McCall tying the game 5-5.
That’s how it stayed till Samson’s heroics as the Explorers bullpen shut down the Winnipeg offense. Over the final four innings Ryan Flores, Jose Velez and Matt Pobereyko combined to shut out the Goldeyes and allowed just one single base runner. Pobereyko was able to pick up his eleventh save of the season.
Both starters, Max Duval and Parker French, received no decisions as they both went five innings and allowed five runs.
Sioux City now with the win and a Lincoln Saltdogs loss holds first place in the American Association South Division to themselves with a record of 20-17. Having won twelve of their last fourteen.
The Explorers and Goldeyes look to play another exciting one on Wednesday night as Eric Karch takes the mound for Sioux City and will face off against left hander Mitchell Lambson for the Goldeyes with first pitch set for 7:12 pm from Sioux City.
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by Connor Ryan