For Immediate Release

July 31, 2021

Tagert-Ball Takes Game Two Over X’s

SIOUX CITY, Iowa- In game two of a three game set between the Gary SouthShore RailCats (27-40) and the Sioux City Explorers (38-29), the RailCats calmed a tenacious Explorers lineup with a 4-1 victory to take a one game advantage of the season series. 

The RailCats would score on a bloop single, a double steal, and a sacrifice fly in the most RailCat win you could possibly find.

Starter Josh Vincent allowed one run in the first but held the X’s silent the rest of the way through his six innings on the mound en route to his second win of the year.

In relief, Nick Garcia earned his second straight multi-inning save as he finished the job with six outs while facing the minimum. 

Explorers' clean-up man drove in one in the first to take a 1-0 lead for his first of three hits on the day, but the X’s would stay silent for the ensuing eight innings. 

In the fourth, Jackson Smith blooped a single into right field to score a pair and take their first lead of the series. Smith would later drive in the fourth run of the game on a sac-fly for his third RBI of the night and fifth of the series. Over the last 10 games, Smith has now delivered eight of his 13 RBI on the year.

The remaining run came via heads up baserunning. With two down in the sixth and runners at the corners, Jesus Marriaga got caught in a pickle in between first and second. From third base, Tom Walraven made a quick break for the plate and beat out a throw from second to put the ‘Cats up by a pair. 

Walraven would single in the eighth to extend his hit streak to 10 games during the 4-1 win over the X’s.

The game two win sets the table for a rubber match in the series finale scheduled for tomorrow, August 1 at 4:05 p.m. at Mercy Field and Lewis and Clark Park in Sioux City, Iowa. 

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