Sioux City Holds Off Houston 6-5

July 23 2021 The Sioux City Explorers defeated the Houston Apollos 6-5 after building an early lead and holding off a ninth-inning rally. Sioux City finished with four hits and two errors, while Houston collected 13 hits without committing an error.

Sioux City scored in the first inning before Houston answered with one run in the third and three more in the fourth. The Explorers regained control with three runs in the sixth, added single runs in the seventh and eighth, and then held Houston to one run in the ninth. Houston’s offense was led by Brian Dansereau, who went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and one RBI. Blake Berry, Aaron Takacs, Aaron Stubblefield and Ian Yetsko also had two hits, with Takacs adding a pair of doubles and one RBI.

For Sioux City, Luis Milligan drove in two runs and Josh Sermo had a double, one run and one RBI. Sermo, along with Logan Tolbert, contributed to the Explorers’ four-RBI total. C. Harris scored twice and stole two bases, while C. Clare added a hit and a stolen base.

Sioux City’s Jose Velez earned the win with two-thirds of a scoreless inning, striking out one. Max Kuhns recorded the save despite allowing one run on three hits in one inning. Houston starter Abdallah Aris worked six innings, allowing three hits and four earned runs while striking out five and walking five. Derrick Sylve was charged with the loss after allowing one run in one inning, and Mark Tindall gave up one run while issuing four walks in the eighth.