712.277.WINS (9467)

BOX SCORE-Game One

BOX SCORE-Game Two

Sioux City, IA-The Explorers combined for 19 runs and 29 hits in two victories over Grand Prairie 5-4 and 14-3 Sunday night at Lewis & Clark Park.

Sioux City (11-20) and Grand Prairie (11-19) picked up the suspended game two of the series in the top of the sixth tied at 2-2. The AirHogs had two runners on base when it resumed and both scored on a double to right-center by Vince DiFazio for a 4-2 lead. The Explorers bounced back in the decisive bottom of the sixth. With one out, Peter Barrows singled to right. Dillon Usiak followed with a single to left and Barrows went first to third. The next batter, Todd Jennings, grounded into a fielder’s choice to drive home Barrows. Rookie Tim Colwell then blooped a single to left for his first professional hit. With two outs, Oscar Mesa doubled up the left-field line to score both Jennings and Colwell for the 5-4 final margin.

Sioux City newcomer Alex Burnett posted the win in relief. Burnett (1-0) pitched one-and-a-third and gave up one run (unearned) with two strikeouts, three walks, and no hits. Brandon Bargas took the loss in relief for Grand Prairie. Bargas (2-4) pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed three earned runs on four hits. Chris Bodishbaugh pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save of the season.

At the plate, Dillon Usiak had a three-hit game, while Oscar Mesa, Andres Perez, and Rene Tosoni all posted two hits. Tosoni clubbed his second home run of the season. Mesa also had two RBIs. The win snapped an eight-game home losing streak for the Explorers dating back to May 23rd.

In the Sunday series finale, Sioux City’s offense galvanized for a season-high 17 hits. The Explorers led 2-0 after one and added three in the third for a 5-1 cushion. It was 6-3 going to the bottom of the sixth, and the X’s busted it wide open with a five-run frame. The loudest blow of the inning came on a two-run home run by Tom Mendonca (pictured). It was Mendonca’s first dinger of the season. Sioux City capped the scoring with a three-run eighth. It was fueled by a Peter Barrows two-run scoring double off the right field wall.

Starter Greg Holt registered his longest outing of the season. Holt (2-4) worked eight innings and allowed three earned runs on just four hits with no strikeouts and three walks. Holt retired the Grand Prairie side in order five times as he won a second straight start. Ryan Searle took the loss for the AirHogs. Searle (1-2) lasted five innings and gave up nine earned runs on twelve hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Alex Pagano came on in relief to finish the game for the Explorers. Pagano struck out one in a 1-2-3 ninth.

Tom Mendonca, Nate Samson, and Oscar Mesa all recorded four-hit games for the Explorers. Mendonca was 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, and six RBIs. Mesa had a double, drove in two, and scored twice. Samson also had two RBIs with four runs scored and a triple. Todd Jennings went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.  

Sioux City has an off-day Monday before starting a three-game road series in Kansas City against the T-Bones Tuesday night. The Explorers return for a seven-game home stand that starts next Friday, June 20^th against rival Sioux Falls. For ticket information and promotion specials at Lewis & Clark Park, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.