Strong Pitching Leads Explorers to Win
June 3, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
Grand Prairie, TX - A quality start from James Dykstra tonight followed by three shut out innings from the bullpen lead the X's to their 12th win of the season.
Dykstra (3-0) picked up the win tonight for Sioux City going 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and striking out 4 and walking none. He was followed by his teammates out of the bullpen Patrick Schuster and Parker Markel who got the save (1).
Sioux City would get the ball rolling in the third inning when Daniel Jackson got on with a one out base hit and would steal second base his fourth of the year. Michael Lang would step in and pop up to the second baseman. Though what looked like a routine pop up, was dropped by Luo Jinjun and Jackson hustled around third and was able to score and give the X's a 1-0 lead.
The Airhogs though would answer in the bottom of the inning when Lu Zhenhong lead off the inning with a base hit. Chu Fujai was then hit by a pitch and Dillon Thomas then doubled off the left center field wall to score both runners and give Texas a 2-1 lead. Though they could have scored more as Dykstra got Meng Weiqiang to ground out into a 4-6-3 inning ending double play.
Dexture McCall would hit his first homer of the year, a no doubt bomb over the left field fence in the fourth inning to tie the game 2-2.
That's the way the score would stay until the seventh inning when the X's were able to manufacture two runs to take the lead. Jackson lead off the inning with a base hit. Lang would follow with a base hit, and Jay Austin would walk to load the bases for Sioux City with only one out and Nate Samson at the plate. Samson lined out to right field but it was deep enough for Jackson to score from third and give the X's the lead 3-2. Jose Sermo walked to load the bases again for Dexture McCall who would drive in a run on a weird play. McCall grounded the ball back up the middle, Lou the second baseman fielded it behind the second base bag. Lang scored on the play as Lou did not have a play at any base. Though Jay Austin attempted an aggressive base running maneuver and rounded third and headed for home. After Luo looked towards first and realized he couldn't get McCall he saw Austin heading for home and threw him out at the plate. Though the run still scored and McCall picked up his second RBI of the game and the X's took a 4-2 lead.
That's all the bullpen would need though as Patrick Schuster struck out two in 1.2 innings. And Parker Markel relieved him for the last 1.1 innings of the game and retired all four Airhogs that he faced earning him the save.
The Explorers improve to 12-4 on the season, and go for the sweep in game three with first pitch set for 2:05.
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