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BOX SCORE

Sioux City, IA-A two-run home run by the hot-hitting Joe Bonfe provided the difference as St. Paul completed a three-game sweep with an 8-5 win over the Explorers Wednesday night at Lewis & Clark Park.

The night began well for the X’s in the first inning. Sioux City (2-5) lead-off man Michael Lang (pictured) walked and reached second on a fielder’s choice ground ball by Rene Tosoni. Andres Perez then drove in Lang on a single to left for a 1-0 lead.

The Saints (6-1) started swinging the bats well in the third. Devin Thaut led off with a single to right-center. After two put outs, Brandon Tripp banged a single to left. Following Henry Wrigley’s infield single to third, Willie Cabrera singled to left to put the Saints ahead 2-1. St. Paul’s lead at the time was short-lived. Sioux City used another lead-off walk to Lang for a fire-starter. Rene Tosoni reached for a second time on a fielder’s choice without an out being recorded. After a groundout, Mark Sobolewski hit a ball to first and drove in Lang from third on a throw to the plate. Tom Mendonca then singled in a run to give the X’s a 3-2 advantage. The very next batter, Luke Murton, doubled home two more runs on a smash to left off the wall. It was 5-2 Sioux City through three.

St. Paul quickly responded in the fourth against starter Geoff Broussard. After a groundout to second, Broussard walked three straight Saints batters. Evan Bigley reached on an error to score a run and Joe Bonfe grounded out to first to pull it within 5-4.

A sixth-inning snafu for a second straight game cost the Explorers. Facing reliever Patrick Johnson, Carlos Escobar led off the inning with a single to center. After a fly out and a strikeout, Joe Bonfe homered deep to left for a 6-5 Saints lead. They added two more runs in the ninth and finished off the sweep in their only three games in Sioux City this season.

St. Paul right-hander Robert Coe picked up the win. Coe (2-0) went five innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven base hits. He struck out four and walked two. Dan Sattler induced a game-ending 4-6-3 double play after a walk and a hit-batter to post his second save of the season. Patrick Johnson took the loss for the Explorers. Johnson (0-1) went four innings in relief and gave up three hits including the two-run homer. He struck out five and walked one.

Andres Perez, Mark Sobolewski, Nate Samson and Tom Mendonca all had two hits in the loss. Samson extended his team-best hitting streak to seven games with two doubles. Joey Becker collected two hits for the Saints and Joe Bonfe had three RBIs.      

The X’s first extended home stand of the season continues at Lewis & Clark Park Thursday night with a 7:05 first pitch against the Amarillo Sox. The four-game series runs through Sunday. For ticket information and promotion specials, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.