712.277.WINS (9467)

BOX SCORE

Sioux City, IA-The Explorers made it nine wins in their last thirteen games with a 12-6 victory over the Rockland Boulders Monday night at Lewis & Clark Park.

With the win, Sioux City (15-23) made it two straight and also put a stop to Rockland’s three-game win streak. The Explorers plated the game’s first run in the bottom of the first as Nate Samson singled on a safety squeeze bunt that brought home Amos Ramon from third. Ramon had reached earlier on a two-base throwing error by the shortstop.

The X’s added to the lead with a four-run second that saw nine men come to the plate. After a fly out, Tim Colwell doubled up the right field line. With two outs, Andres Perez walked. That was followed by two more walks to Rene Tosoni and Nate Samson. The walk to Samson drove in Colwell for a 2-0 lead. The next run came home on an error by the second baseman attempting to field a Tom Mendonca grounder. Peter Barrows (pictured) finished off the inning with a two-run scoring line-drive single to center that made it 5-0.

Rockland (16-13) cut the deficit to three with two runs in the fourth. Ryan Stovall led off the inning with a single to left-center. Jerod Edmondson singled to right and that placed runners at the corners. Steve Nyisztor then reached on a 6-4 fielder’s choice to drive in the first run. Nyisztor later scored as Stephen Cardullo singled sharply to center, and it was 5-2 after four.

The Explorers used four straight singles in the bottom of the fifth to stretch the lead to 7-2. Dillon Usiak and Todd Jennings each had RBI singles in the inning. Sioux City then broke it wide open in the sixth. After Rockland plated a run in the top half, the X’s put up a five-spot for a 12-3 cushion. Andres Perez had two hits in the inning with an RBI. Peter Barrows had an RBI single, and Tim Colwell drove in two more with a single to center. Dillon Usiak also brought in a run with a sacrifice fly. Rockland capped the night with a three-run seventh.

Sioux City right-hander John Straka picked up the win. Straka (3-3) worked six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits with one strikeout and no walks. Greg Terhune took the loss for the Boulders. Terhune (1-1) went five innings and gave up nine runs (five earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts and five walks. Geoff Broussard posted his first save of the season. Broussard pitched the final three innings and yielded three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

In his first game back since missing the last series, Peter Barrows went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Andres Perez also had a three-hit game with two runs and an RBI. Tim Colwell was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run. Nate Samson and Dillon Usiak each collected two RBIs.

Sioux City continues its seven-game home stand Tuesday night with the second of four against Rockland of the Can-Am League. First pitch against the Boulders is set for 7:05 p.m. For ticket information and promotion specials at Lewis & Clark Park, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.