SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Sioux City Explorers (51-45) rallied to beat the Saltdogs (50-46) 7-5 on a walk-off homer in the 10th inning at Lewis and Clark Park Thursday night.
With the loss, Lincoln falls to one game behind the division-leading X’s with four to play.
Bryan Johns swatted a two-run shot down the left field line off All Star closer Evan Reed in the bottom of the 10th, just his third homer of the season.
Sioux City tied the game with one out in the bottom of the ninth on an error.
The Saltdogs jumped out in front to a 5-0 lead in the second inning after a three-run homer by Juan Martinez.
The Explorers responded by plating three runs in the bottom of the second.
League ERA leader Lindsey Caughel pitched five innings on three-days rest, allowing three runs.
Shairon Martis worked three innings of relief, stranding a pair of runners in the sixth with no out.
The Saltdogs open up the final four-game series of the regular season Friday night in St. Paul at 7:05 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM.