The Winnipeg Goldeyes opened up their three-game series in Iowa against the Sioux City Explorers on a losing note, dropping a 6-3 decision in front of a small crowd of 860 people.

Fort Worth, TX native Zach Nuding got the start for the Goldeyes, his fourth of the season. Nuding went 5.2 innings, giving up six runs on 12 hits with one strike out and two walks. Joeanthony Rivera, Josh Laxer and Kenny Matthews all came in in relief of Nuding, not allowing any more runs to cross the plate while facing eight batters.

Independent League veteran Reggie Abercrombie hit a solo shot, his third of the season, to open the scoring in the second inning, and added an RBI in the third as Winnipeg took a 3-2 lead into the fourth inning, where the Explorers' bats came alive and drove in three runs on a triple from Michael Land and a sacrifice fly from Jayce Ray.

Former Philadelphia Phillies draft pick Cody Forsythe picked up the win for Sioux City in his fourth start of the season. The Calvert City, KY native pitched 6.2 solid innings for the Explorers, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out six. P.J. Francescon came in for ninth inning, striking out one of the five batters he faced to pick up his fifth save of the season.

With the loss and a St Paul Saints win, the Goldeyes dropped to third place in the North Division with a record of 12-6. St Paul and Fargo-Moorhead are in a tie for first in the American Association, 0.5 games ahead of the Goldeyes.

The Explorers maintained their first place spot in the Central Division, 1.5 games up on the Kansas City T-Bones with a record of 11-6.

Winnipeg and Sioux City will play the second game of their three-game set tonight with first pitched scheduled for just after 7:00pm at Lewis & Clark Park.

(Photo courtesy of Goldeyes.com)