RedHawks rally to beat Sioux City

FARGO - Two Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks veteran players delivered Wednesday night at Newman Outdoor Field, a pleasant sight for manager Doug Simunic.

A Sergio Pedroza two-run home run and a Nic Jackson two-run single helped the RedHawks rally for a 6-5 victory against the Sioux City Explorers in American Association baseball before 3,086 fans.

"I need my veterans to do that," Simunic said. "We're not really 'run-scoring' right now, but we got to have our veterans chip in. When the chance is there, they've got to do it."

The RedHawks (14-18) crept closer to a .500 record and have won five of their past six games.

"It's big for us because we know we haven't been playing like we should be," Jackson said. "It's good to get a little momentum going into Winnipeg."

The RedHawks start a four-game series at 7 tonight at Winnipeg, which is first-place in the North Division. F-M is six games behind the Goldeyes in the division standings.

"If stub your toe and stink, you're going to have a hard time," Simunic said. "But if you can do something, you may find yourself feeling good about yourself. We've got to go there (Winnipeg) with the intentions of winning two or three of the games."

Sioux City built a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday before F-M mounted its comeback.

Jackson, who is in his 12th professional season, led off the home half of the sixth with a single to right field. Pedroza, in his eighth pro season, followed with a two-run homer over the wall in center field. That blast knotted the score at 4-4.

"All day the ball hadn't been carrying and then Pedroza unloaded on a ball," Jackson said. "Everybody kind of woke up after that. It was good. Every now and then you need a spark like that."

That moment carried into the seventh inning. Jackson came to the plate with runners on second and third base and two outs. The left-handed swinging Jackson punched a single to left-center field that scored Ryan Stovall (who started the rally with a double to lead off the inning) and Aharon Eggleston.

Jackson's clutch hit gave the RedHawks a 6-4 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish.

"We showed some perseverance," Simunic said.

"We're still not playing like we want to be playing, but it's good to have a couple breaks go your way," Jackson said. "That's sometimes how it starts."

NOTES: Right-hander Tyler Herron (1-2, 3.68 ERA) is slated to start today for the RedHawks against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. ... Jackson finished 2-for-4 on Wednesday to lift his season average to .317. Pedroza was also 2-for-4 to improve his season average to .286. ... F-M has a 5-11 record at Newman Outdoor Field this season.

SIOUX CITY REDHAWKS

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Nwn 2b-cf 5 2 3 0 Egglstn lf 3 1 1 0

Ingchi lf 5 1 2 0 Pnprse ss 4 0 0 0

Lang cf-rf 4 1 2 2 Jckson cf 4 1 2 2

Snchz 1b 5 0 1 2 Pdroza rf 4 2 2 2

Serrano c 5 0 1 0 Dlgado dh 3 1 1 0

Mrtinz dh 4 1 1 0 Rodrgz 1b 4 0 0 0

Bckmn 3b 3 0 2 0 Jennings c 3 0 1 2

Mrphy 2b 3 0 2 1 Stovall 3b 3 1 1 0

Bisns ph-rf 1 0 0 0 Cota 2b 3 0 0 0

Bstgne ss 3 0 0 0

Totals 38 5 14 5 Totals 31 6 8 6

Sioux City 003 001 001-5 14 0

RedHawks 020 002 20x-6 8 1

E-Jackson (1). LOB-Sioux City 9, RedHawks 3. 2B-Serrano (13), Backman (7), Delgado (9), Stovall (4). 3B-Backman (3). HR-Pedroza (2). SB-Lang (6), Murphy (2), Eggleston (8).

SIOUX CITY

IP H R ER BB SO

Quijano 4 3 2 2 1 1

Delacruz L 2Zc 4 4 4 1 0

Bodishbaugh 1Xc 1 0 0 0 2

REDHAWKS

IP H R ER BB SO

Laber 5Zc 10 4 4 1 2

Zenko W 2Zc 0 0 0 0 1

Morari 0 1 0 0 0 0

Boleska S 1Zc 3 1 1 0 2

Umpires-Home: Linton. First: Bakke. Third: McCaffrey. Time-2:51. A-3,086.

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