Sioux City, IA– The Sioux City Explorers (52-40) used a big fifth inning bases-clearing double by Jose Sermo to help end the Kansas City T-Bones’ (52-40) five game winning streak Sunday night in Iowa, beating KC 6-2. The win for the Explorers pulled Sioux City into a tie with Kansas City for second place in the American Association South Division and evened the two clubs in the wild card race for a playoff spot. 

Sioux City took the lead 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI single from Jeremey Hazelbaker off T-Bones starter Dylan Baker (3-5). Carlos Sierra (8-1) would hold the T-Bones offense in check for the next four innings until the top of the fifth. Danny Mars reached on a single to start the frame and would be followed one batter later with Ramsey Romano, who also added a base hit. Sierra got a big second out on a pop out by Dylan Tice just a few feet inside the fence in foul territory at third. Shawn O’Malley would give the T-Bones the lead with a double down the right field line off the wall. 

With KC leading 2-1, Baker came back out in the bottom of the fifth and surrendered a single from the bat of Dylan Kelly. Baker then retired the next two on fly balls and was one out away from getting out of the inning. Nate Samson squeezed a single between a diving Ramsey Romano at third and a diving Shawn O’Malley at short. Baker then hit Hazelbaker with a pitch to load the bases to face Jose Sermo. Sermo hit the first pitch he saw to right center for a bases-clearing double to make it 4-2 Sioux City.

Baker’s streak of four straight quality starts came to an end as he would go just 5.1 before leaving the game charged with five earned runs. In the bottom of the sixth, Sebastian Zawada hit a solo shot to make it a 5-2 lead and to chase Baker from the game. Evan Korson came into the game and would keep the game at 5-2 into the seventh. Sioux City added a sac fly RBI in the seventh from Dexture McCall to close out the scoring. Sierra would work six in the win for Sioux City, scattering five hits with six strike outs. The T-Bones could not come back against the Sioux City pen as Tyler Fallwell tossed a pair of scoreless innings while Matt Pobereyko worked a scoreless ninth to close out the game. 

The two teams will play the final game of the three-game series Monday with a first pitch at 7:12 p.m at Lewis and Clark Park. The T-Bones will send out RHP Akeem Bostick (2-0, 0.81) to face RHP Eric Karch (5-6, 5.31) for the X’s. Catch all the action live on the T-Bones Broadcast Network. Following this series, KC will head back to Texas for a three-game series. 

Tickets to all T-Bones home games are on sale now online or by calling (913) 328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke's Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale now. 

For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the T-Bones Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to www.tbonesbaseball.com. and the T-Bones Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.   

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