X's hold off Sioux Falls 9-5
August 15, 2006 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
SIOUX CITY - The Sioux City Explorers held off the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-5, Tuesday night at Lewis and Clark Park. The X's record now stands at 42-45 (18-21 second half), and the loss drops the Canaries to 32-54 (16-22 second half).
The Canaries jumped out front in the top of the second when Bubba Smith hit his sixth home run of the season over the center field wall. The X's tied the game in the bottom half. Chris Grossman singled to center and scored on a Robert Mendoza single.
The X's took the lead for good in the third, scoring three runs. JJ Burress doubled down the leftfield line, and scored on an Alex Llanos double to left. Llanos stole third and scored on an error by the catcher. Grossman doubled to center and drove in Jorge Moreno.
The Canaries drew within one at 4-3, in the fourth. The X's would put the game away with four runs in the fifth. Sioux City's designated hitter Billy Keppinger doubled off the wall in center, (and member of the starting pitching staff) driving in Mendoza, Mike Richardson, and Jake Daubert.
Sioux Falls added two in the top of the sixth when Bubba Smith hit his second home run of the night, and seventh of the year. Sioux City added one in the seventh Zack Pace drove in Robert Mendoza with a fly out to center. The Canaries would make things interesting in their half of the ninth, by loading the bases. Sean Kramer would strike out former major leaguer Chad Hermansen for the final out.
Sioux City starter Chris Swiatkiewicz (1-2) got his first win of the year. Swiatkiewicz went 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, five runs, one walk, and struck out one. Sean Donlin (0-6) started for Sioux Falls and took the loss. Donlin went five innings, allowing 10 hits, eight runs, three walks, and striking out five. Ty Marotz made his second appearance, went 2.1 innings, walked two and struck out five.
Sioux City starts a six game road trip on Thursday with three games against the Fort Worth Cats. After Saturday, the X's will travel to Pensacola to take on the Pelicans for three games, before returning home for their final three games of the season against the Lincoln Saltdogs on August 24-26. Tickets for the final three games can be purchased online at www.xsbaseball.com, via the phone at 277-WINS, or at the Lewis and Clark Park box office.
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