Lang Comes in Clutch in X's Victory over Wichita
June 24, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
Wichita, KS- Michael Lang had a huge night at the plate for Sioux City, coming in clutch late in the game to get the extra-inning 7-6 victory over Wichita at Laurence-Dumont Stadium. The Explorers snapped their three game losing streak with win on Friday night.
X's centerfielder Matty Johnson opened up the game with a leadoff triple, putting him in position to score on a groundout by Michael Lang for the first run of the contest.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Wichita tied the game. With two outs and no one on base, T.J. Mittelstaedt homered to left-center-field, to tie the game at 1-1 after four innings of play.
The Wingnuts took the lead an inning later. Wichita's shortstop Leo Vargas added a run with an RBI single. An error by the second baseman and a groundout plated two more runs for Wichita.
Sioux City answered with a huge sixth inning, racking four runs to retake the lead at 5-4. Explorers right-fielder Michael Lang smashed a two-run homer to put the momentum back on their side. Tommy Mendonca kept the offense moving, tripling to score the tying run at second base and put him in scoring position with no outs. Mendonca was the final run in the inning, crossing home plate on a sac-fly-RBI by Jarek Cunningham.
Explorers extended the lead in the seventh. X's right fielder Michael Lang, continued his hot night at the plate, homering a second time with a solo-shot, increasing the lead to 6-4.
Wichita cut the lead to a lone run in the eighth. Wingnuts catcher Martin Medina hit a sacrifice-fly to centerfield, scoring the runner at third base to cut the lead to 6-4.
In the bottom of the ninth, Wichita tied it to send the game into extra innings. After nine innings of play, Explorers and Wingnuts tied at 6-6.
In the top of the tenth, Michael Lang once again, came in clutch. Lang led-off the inning with a double, aggressively advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a throwing error by the catcher, trying to pick-off Lang at third base.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, X's closer Connor Overton pitches a scoreless tenth inning to clinch it for Sioux City. Explorers win it tonight with a 7-6 victory over Wichita in ten innings at Laurence-Dumont Stadium.
Explorers starter Graham Johnson (3-1) finished with a no decision, allowing four runs (two earned) in five innings pitched. X's right-hander Connor Overton (3-0) got the victory, going two innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts.
Wingnuts left-hander Charlie Leesman (2-2) had a no decision on the night, giving up five runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Frankie Reed (3-2) was charged with the loss for Wichita, allowing the winning run to score in the tenth inning.
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