X's Overthrow the Monarchs
Published on May 14, 2023 under American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
SIOUX CITY, IA - On a cold and blustery Mother's Day, it was the Sioux City Explorers (3-0) who did the X's moms proud with walk-off sac-fly winner off the bat of Wilfredo Gimenez to secure the three-game sweep over the Kansas City Monarchs (0-3).
Kansas City struck first in the top of the first, scoring their only run off X's starter Austin Drury. With the bases loaded, Jan Hernandez hit into a double play to bring in a run and take the 1-0 lead. Drury would work 2.1 innings surrendering two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The X's pen was solid all afternoon as Heitor Tokar, Nate Gercken and Sean Rackoski combined to hold KC off the board the rest of the way.
The Explorers flashed some fancy glove work in the win. In the top of the seventh, with Kansas City looking to take the lead with two on and two out, Eury Perez made a spectacular play, leaping into the left field wall to rob Johnesway Fargas of a hit. An inning later a comebacker off the bat of Jacob Robson hit hard off the fielding glove of Rackoski on the mound and rolled toward third where Matt Llyod made a lunging catch and throw to first to get the out.
The Explorers had a chance in the home half of the seventh and eighth inning, getting runners into scoring position, but they could not cash in. In the ninth, that would not be the case as Matt Lloyd would work a lead-off walk off former Big Leaguer Carlos Sanabria (0-1) to put the winning run on base. Jack Kelly would pinch run for Lloyd. Eury Perez put a near perfect bunt down the right side of the infield that Kansas City second baseman Olivier Basabe would field and make a low throw to first, landing by the visitors dugout. The fourth error for the day for Kansas City would move Kelly to third and Perez to second, forcing the Monarchs to walk Kyle Kasser to load the bases. That would set up Wilfredo Gimenez, who hit a deep fly to left in front of the scoreboard to score Kelly for the win.
Sean Rackoski would get the relief win going two innings of hitless work in the win for the X's. In the three-game sweep the X's allowed just two runs in 23 innings over the weekend.
WP: Sean Rackoski (1-0)
LP: Carlos Sanabria (0-1)
The Explorers are off on Monday then open a three-game midweek series against the Lake Country Dockhounds beginning Tuesday night at 7:05 p.mat Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark Park. Tickets for the season can be purchased online as XSBaseball.com, in person at the Lewis and Clark Park Box Office or by calling 712-277-WINS. You can catch all the X's action on aabaseball.tv and on radio at KSCJ 94.9 FM and 1360 AM.
American Association Stories from May 14, 2023
- X's Overthrow the Monarchs - Sioux City Explorers
- Finnegan Shines, Monarchs Fall to Sioux City - Kansas City Monarchs
- RailCats Close Out Goldeyes Late, Earn Opening Series Win - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- 'Dogs Lose Rubber Match in 10 Innings - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Early Deficit Dooms Birds in Series Finale - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Goldeyes Fall to RailCats in Rubber Match - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Bats Go Silent in Game 2 - Lake Country DockHounds
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