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AA Sioux City Explorers

X's take thriller from Aviators

June 6, 2006 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release


SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Explorers defeated the Coastal Bend Aviators in their first ever meeting on a Ryan Gripp single in the bottom of the ninth. The win improves the Xs record to 13-11. The loss drops Coastal Bend, who is in first place in the South Division, to 16-8.

Defense dominated the first three innings with only the minimum nine batters getting up through the first three innings for Coastal Bend. The Xs mustered two baserunners in the first, but ended the second and third by hitting into double plays.

The offenses heated up in the fourth, with the visiting Aviators getting on the board first. Evan Tartaglia singled up the middle, stole second and was advanced to third on a sacrifice by Andy Wilson. Matt Creighton hit a hard grounder to Xs third baseman Ryan Gripp, Gripp looked Tartaglia back and threw Creighton out at first. However, it was enough for Tartaglia to beat the tag at home and score.

The Explorers responded in the home half of the fourth. Jorge Moreno doubled to deep left. After Gripp struck out, Kevin Henry hit a huge home run into the wind over the left field wall to give the Xs a 2-1 lead.

Both defenses responded to hold off the scoring until the eighth inning. The Aviators Evan Tartaglia scored off a Matt Creighton bloop single to left. Coastal Bend was able to add two more runs when Creighton scored on a Rodney Medina grounder to third, and Jeff Ontiveros scored when Steve Morales doubled to center.

Sioux City was able to respond in the bottom half of the eighth. After two Xs singles, Dan Meier scored on an Alex Llanos single through the infield. Sioux City catcher Chris Grossman singled to left and brought in Ryan Gripp.

After getting out of a jam in the top half of the ninth, Dan Meier got on thanks to a fielding error by Coastal Bend shortstop Jaime Landin. A four-pitch walk to Jorge Moreno moved Meier to second and a Ryan Gripp single to left was enough for Meier to come home and give Sioux City the victory.

Sioux City starter Trevor Marcotte went seven and a third innings, giving up seven hits, three runs and striking out three. His Coastal Bend counterpart, starter Ricky Stover, went six innings, scattering five hits, two runs and striking out four.

Sioux City and Coastal Bend will continue their series Wednesday night at Lewis and Clark Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with Tom Lipari starting for the X�s and Pedro Flores taking the mound for the Aviators.

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