X's rally falls short
August 5, 2006 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
SIOUX CITY - The Sioux City Explorers ninth inning rally fell short, dropping the final game of the series to the El Paso Diablos, 15-13. The win improves the Diablos to 26-47 (9-16 second half) and the loss drops the X's to 38-40 (14-16 second half).
Scoring came early and in bunches. The Diablos jumped out front in the top of the first scoring once. The X's answered with a resounding four runs in the home half of the first. El Paso would add three runs in the second and four in the third, before Sioux City added one in the bottom of the third, leaving the score at 8-5.
The X's would rally to tie the game in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring one and two runs in each respectively. Sioux City's fifth inning run came on an Alex Llanos solo home run, his ninth of the year. El Paso would not let the tie last long however, tagging X's reliever John Howerton for seven runs.
The X's got another run in the eighth, setting up a ninth inning rally. Sioux City got four runs in the final three outs. After Jorge Moreno flied out, Ryan Gripp homered to left, his 12th on the season. Chris Grossman singled, Jake Daubert doubled to right, followed by an RBI grounder by Kevin Henry. Mike Richardson singled to left, and advanced to second. JJ Burress stepped up and drove in both Richardson and Daubert with a single to right field. Dustin Cameron would come in for El Paso to try and finish off the X's. Burress advanced to third on a passed ball, Zack Pace walked, followed by an Alex Llanos walk to load the bases for Jorge Moreno. With two outs, Moreno and Cameron battled, which ended with Cameron striking out Moreno.
Sioux City reliever John Howerton (6-3) took the loss. Howerton pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, seven runs - only one of which was earned - walking one and getting no strikeouts. El Paso starter Andy Torres (7-5) picked up the win for the Diablos, going six innings, allowing nine hits, eight runs, with two walks and two strikeouts. Dustin Cameron got his first save of the year, getting the final out of the game.
JJ Burress was 3-6 at the plate, with three RBIs and one run scored. Chris Grossman was 3-5, drove in three and scored three times as well. Ryan Gripp was 1-5 but drove in two and Mike Richardson was 2-4 with two runs scored. Every X's batter got at least one hit for the second night in a row.
Sioux City has Sunday off, but will put on the "Winging It Towards The Playoffs" concert at Lewis and Clark Park. Tickets will be $10 and all proceeds will go towards plane tickets for the team on the upcoming road trip to Pensacola, Florida. Tickets can be purchased at the gate tomorrow night, with the gate opening at five and entertainment starting at six.
The X's return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Sioux Falls for a two game set, before heading to Saint Paul for a three game series. The X's return home on Sunday, August 13th, when they host the Sioux Falls Canaries.
American Association Stories from August 5, 2006
- American Association Recap - AA
- X's rally falls short - Sioux City Explorers
- Canaries one run short, 4-3 - Sioux Falls Canaries
- St. Joe Holds On for Victory Over Canaries - St. Joseph Blacksnakes
- Pelicans, Sports Rubber Match Comes Down to Last Inning - Pensacola Pelicans
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