Explorers sweep Birds; clinch I-29 trophy
July 24, 2008 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
SIOUX CITY, IA -- After a 1 year hiatus, the I-29 trophy is coming home. Sioux City clinched the season series on Thursday night, sweeping a doubleheader versus the Birds, winning 6-2 in Game One and 4-1 in Game Two.
In the first contest, it was Tim Layden who shut down the league's number one offense, going the distance for his first complete game of his career. Layden went 7 IP allowing 2 runs, 1 earned on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 2.
The X's pounced on Canarie starter Lenny BAys (3-3), scoring 2 in the first on a double play grounder by Chris Grossman and a RBI single by Chad Gabriel. After Sioux Falls scored an unearned run in the top of the 2nd, the Explorers scored 3 in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single from Alex Llanos and a 2 out 2 run double by Juan Camacho. Sioux City tacked on a sac fly from Derek Schermerhorn in the 3rd.
Sioux Falls would hit 3 straight singles with 1 out in the 7th off of Layden (5-5) to score a run but the lefty got 2 fly balls from Patrick Reilly and Paul Smyth to end the game.
In the nightcap, Alexander Francisco took the hill but gave up a solo HR to Reilly leading off the 3rd. The X's answered in the bottom of the inning, thanks to control problems from Sioux Falls starter Travis Kane (7-5). The righty would walk Dustin Jones and move to 2nd on Jason Tuttle's bunt. Jones would then steal 3rd and then Llanos would walk. Llanos would steal 2nd and then Grossman walked to load the bases. Camacho then drilled a 2 run single to right and the Grossman scored on a delayed double steal when Josh Patton dropped the throw to 2nd base.
Tuttle would add a 2 out RBI single in the 4th and the X's went on to win behind Francisco (8-1), who after giving up the HR to Reilly retired 12 of his next 13 batters to shut down the Birds. Francisco would give up a 1 out double to Beau Torbert in the top of the 7th which brought Brett Reid into the game. Reid got Josh Patton to ground out to first and Ben Van Iderstine struck out to end the game and Reid had his 14th save.
Camacho went 3-5 in the doubleheader with 4 RBI and 2 walks. Jones reached base 4 times in 8 plate appearances and scored 3 runs. Tuttle went 3-6 with 2 runs and a RBI. Llanos went 4-5 with a triple, 2 walks, RBI and 2 runs.
The X's have now won 10 times against Sioux Falls in 17 tries this season and with just 2 games left between the 2 clubs, the X's clinched the I-29 trophy for the 8th time in 10 seasons since the trophy was created in 1999. The Explorers have won the season series 12 times in 16 years, the Canaries have taken it 3 times and there was 1 tie. The 2 wins also gave the Explorers their longest win streak of the year, 4 games.
Sioux City will try and keep the streak going against the Birds on Friday night and will send the league's ERA leader Nick Singleton to the mound (5-4, 2.33) while Sioux Falls will go with Ben Moore (6-5, 5.79). Game time is 7:05; tickets are still available by calling 277-WINS.
American Association Stories from July 24, 2008
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- Explorers sweep Birds; clinch I-29 trophy - Sioux City Explorers
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