712.277.WINS (9467)

Sioux City, IA - In a rain soaked game on the fourth of July the Sioux City Explorers completed the sweep of the Winnipeg Goldeyes tonight by a score of 13-6. 

Winnipeg actually took an early lead in the top of the first inning after two lead off singles let Tommy Mendonca drive home a run with a single and Josh Mazzola drive in the second one with a sacrifice fly making it 2-0 Goldeyes. 

The Explorers though answered in the bottom half of the inning after the first three men reached and Jay Austin brought home Luis Durango with a base hit. Nate Samson reached on a fielders choice after a throwing error by the Winnipeg third baseman which allowed Michael Lang to score. Jose Sermo brought home Jay Austin with a sacrifice fly to center field and the Explorers took the lead 3-2. 

The Goldeyes would tie the game in the third as Reggie Abercrombie drove Dave Sappelt home to make it 3-3. 

But that’s the last run that Winnipeg would get off of X’s starter Luis Mateo (7-2) as he picked up the win tonight going 6.1 innings, allowing just 3 runs, on 7 hits walking none and striking out 2. Mateo has now picked up a win in the last four starts he has made and the X’s are 8-2 in games in which he starts. 

It was a 3-3 tie before the X’s broke it in the fifth with Jose Sermo’s eighth home run of the year. It was a 3-run blast to left field scoring Michael Lang and Nate Samson who each reached on singles in the inning. Sermo finished the night with 4 RBI’s. 

Sioux City tacked on three more runs in the seventh as Jay Austin and Samson lead off with singles. Austin scored as Jose Sermo reached on an error by the pitcher. Jay Baum grounded out to score a run and Dexture McCall drove in a run with a base hit making it 9-3 Sioux City. 

The X’s added four runs in the bottom of the eighth with Nate Samson driving in a run with a sacrifice fly and Jay Baum clearing the bases with a three run home run of his own. Baum finishing with 4 RBI’s on the night as well and now owns the top spot in the American Association with 44 RBI’s on the year. 

Winnipeg scored three times in the ninth against Sioux City with Sappelt driving in two with a base hit and Josh Romanski another on a sacrifice fly. 

Sioux City has now won 9 games in a row for the second time this season. They will look to win ten in a row after their day off on Thursday, with the Wichita Wingnuts coming to town on Friday night for the start of a three game weekend series beginning on Friday night at 7:05 pm.