Explorers Muzzle Saltdogs in Shutout Win
July 17, 2025 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
LINCOLN, Neb- The Sioux City Explorers (39-22) wasted no time setting the tone in the second game of their series with the Lincoln Saltdogs (25-36), delivering an all-around performance that kept the home crowd quiet. With timely swings and shutdown pitching, Sioux City cruised to a 5-0 win and widened its divisional lead.
The Explorers didn't score until the sixth inning last night, but in the middle game of this series, it took them only two batters. Austin Davis blooped a single into left field, and Henry George battled starter Johnny Blake (3-3), running the count full.
The All-Star crushed Blake's payoff pitch over the wall in right center field for a two-run home run. Sioux City snagged its first lead of the series on George's third longball of the season.
Davis knocked in a run of his own on a two-out double in the second, and that's all the offense the X's needed. The Venezuelan righty Angel Macuare (2-0) sawed through the Lincoln lineup, scattering seven hits over seven innings, striking out five. He did not issue a walk and stranded seven runners.
Sioux City tacked on a run in the seventh and carried the 4-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth when Chase Jessee took over. The lefty allowed the first two batters to reach before striking out Spencer Henson before Drew DeVine grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Closer Felix Cepeda replaced Jessee in the ninth and sent Lincoln back to the doghouse. The righty finished his 24th games of the season as Sioux City took a two-game lead in the West Division with Kansas City's 4-2 loss to Fargo-Moorhead.
The Explorers will face the Saltdogs in the final game of the three-game series Thursday night July 17 at Haymarket Park in Lincoln. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on radio at KSCJ 94.9 FM and 1360 AM and the video stream will air on aabaseball.tv. The Explorers return home from the nine-game road trip Friday night July 18 to begin a three-game series against the Sioux Falls Canaries at Lewis and Clark Park. Tickets for all Explorers games are available at the ticket office or going online at xsbaseball.com. For more information, please call the Explorers' front office at 712-277-WINS. Stay tuned to the Explorers' social media channels and the club's website, xsbaseball.com, for all our news and updates.
Notes from the Booth:
-Sioux City is 6-2 on the nine-game road trip.
-The X's tossed their league high eighth shut out Wednesday night.
-Sioux City is 21-12 on the road this season to lead the league.
-The Explorers have a league best 39-22 record and lead Kansas City by two games in the West.
-Henry George reached base for the 14th straight game.
-Sioux City is 30-1 when leading after six innings.
-Torin Montgomery extended his hitting streak to six games.
-The two bases the team stole gives them 130 for the season.
TUNE INTO ALL THE EXPLORERS ACTION ON KSCJ AND AABASEBALL.TV.
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