712.277.WINS (9467)

SIOUX CITY, IA - Looking to finish off the home stand with a win and a split of the four game series with Kansas City the X’s do just that by picking up the 5-4 win. 

Sioux City started things off in the first inning when Luis Durango and Michael Lang would both reach on infield base hits. After both advanced to second and third on a Jay Austin sacrifice bunt. Nate Samson would ground out to short to score Durango and make it 1-0 Sioux City. 

Justin Vernia was excellent for the Explorers in this one though he ended up with a no decision. As he went 6.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts and only 1 walk. He retired the first 11 T-Bones that he faced in the game and threw 62 of his 92 pitches for strikes. 

The X’s would pad Vernia’s lead in the fourth when Samson would reach on a base hit, Jose Sermo followed with a double. With runners at second and third Dexture McCall would hit a line drive off the pitchers glove that the second baseman was able to get to to retire McCall but allowed Samson to score. Jay Baum came up with Sermo at third and hit a ground ball to short, Dylan Tice’s throw to first was high, allowing Baum to reach and Sermo to score on the error, making it 3-0 X’s. 

T-Bones starter Barrett Austin went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs, only 3 earned, with 7 hits, 3 strikeouts and 1 walk. 

The T-Bones and X’s would trade runs in the sixth inning leading into the seventh with a 4-1 lead for Sioux City. 

In the seventh the T-Bones finally got to Vernia. After he retired the first batter, and even after Cal Towey was caught stealing at second base after a base hit and there were 2 outs with no body on base. Adrien Nieto would walk, Jordan Edgerton reached with a single. And then Dexter Kjerstad hit his second 3-run home run of the series to tie the game 4-4. Kansas City would load the bases but Ryan Flores was called out of the bullpen and got Zach Walters to ground out to leave them loaded and the game tied. 

The X’s would score in the bottom of the seventh. Durango drew a one out walk. Lang hit a hard line drive that was caught by the short stop Tice. He threw over to second to double off Durango off the bag but again his throw sailed high. This extended the inning and allowed Durango to get into scoring position. Jay Austin then walked and Samson came through with a base hit into center field to drive in Durango and Samson picked up his league leading 18th RBI of the season. 

Flores (1-0) would pick up the win tonight by throwing a scoreless eighth and ninth innings facing the minimum amount of T-Bones in the two innings. Julio Eusebio would take the loss for Kansas City. 

With the win Sioux City becomes the first team in the league to reach 10 wins on the season. They also wrapped up the home stand with a winning record scoring victories in four of the seven games at Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark Park. 

Next the X’s will travel to Texas for a six game roadtrip to face the Texas Airhogs for three games and the Cleburne Railroaders for three. Before a day off on Thursday, June 7th and then returning home for a quick three game weekend series against the Texas Airhogs.