AA Sioux City Explorers

X's and Wichita split a doubleheader

Published on May 11, 2008 under American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release


The Sioux City Explorers split a doubleheader with Wichita on Sunday afternoon, winning Game 1 2-1 and losing the finale 10-6.

In Game 1, the X's received tremendous pitching from starter Alexander Francisco, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing 1 ER on 8 hits, walking 3 and striking out 5. Francisco was helped by solid defense, with the X's getting double plays in the 2nd and 4th innings.

The X's broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the 4th. With 1 on, Juan Camacho lifted a towering fly ball off Wichita starter Gustavo Mata down the RF line that just stayed fair for a 2-run HR and the Explorers had a 2-0 lead.

Francisco finally ran into trouble in the top of the 5th, giving up back-to-back 2 out singles to Blake Gailen and Brenan Herrera, scoring Gailen to make it 2-1. Francisco then walked Chris Colton and Dustan Mohr to load the bases but got Michael Thompson to end the threat.

The rookie right-hander ran into more trouble in the 6th. Stephen Pearson reached first on a wild pitch strikeout and Derek Schermerhorn singled. With 2 on and 2 out, X's skipper Les Lancaster brought in Brett Reid, who got Gailen to line out to end the threat.

Reid walked Gailen leading off the 7th but then picked him off. Colton would also walk but Reid got Mohr and Thompson to both fly out to left to pick up the save.

Francisco, who lead the X's in wins last year with 10, got Sioux City in the win column for the first time this year.

Game two did not go so well. Sioux City starter Tim Layden struggled, going 3 plus innings, allowing 6 earned runs on 9 hits. David Gates had a RBI single and RBI double and Heath Keel added a 2-run double. Kevin Fitzgerald gave up a 2-run HR to David Gates and the X's were in an 8-0 hole.

Sioux City began to comeback in the bottom of the 4th with a RBI single by Alex Llanos and a sacrifice fly by Chad Gabriel. The X's tacked on 2 more runs in the 5th on a 2-run double by Chris Grossman.

Wichita, however, put 2 runs on the board in the 6th on back-to-back RBI singles by Michael Thompson and Heath Keel to make it 10-4.

The X's again tried to rally in the 7th when Wichita reliever Ronnie Ball ran into some trouble, giving up leadoff walks to Dustin Jones and Ray Navarro. Jason Tuttle hit a grounder to third but Thompson's throw pulled Gates off the bag for an error, scoring Jones. That brought in reliever Dan Caldwell to face Nick McCoola, who hit a fielder's choice, scoring Navarro. Caldwell would walk Grossman and Camacho to load the bases and bring the potential tying run to the plate. However, Alex Llanos would hit into a game ending double play and the X's fell 10-6.

Chris Grossman went 2-3 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI and a run scored in Game 2. Ray Navarro walked 3 times and scored twice for the X's. Cameron Cheek pitched a perfect 1 2/3 innings of relief.

The X's fall to 1-4 on the season and will have a day off on Monday and entertain St. Paul for the first of a 3 game set on Tuesday, May 13. It's a 2-dollar Tuesday with kids and seniors receiving reserve seats for just 2 dollars. For ticket information, call 277-WINS. You can also hear it on 1360 KSCJ and xsbaseball.com.

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American Association Stories from May 11, 2008


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