712.277.WINS (9467)

BOX SCORE

St. Paul, MN-The Explorers allowed three sixth-inning runs that wiped away a one-run lead against the Saints before losing the series opener 4-2 Thursday afternoon at Midway Stadium.

Sioux City (33-45) has now lost three in a row after a season-high five game winning streak. St. Paul (44-31) has taken all seven games against the Explorers this season. The Saints plated the game’s first run in the first inning. Devin Thaut led off with a single to center. He later scored on a one-out double by Willie Cabrera.

The Explorers drew even in the second. Andres Perez led off the inning with a double to left. A ground out moved Perez to third, and he came around to score on a two-out base knock by Amos Ramon (pictured). Sioux City then took a 2-1 lead in the third. Leading off, Michael Lang doubled to left. Oscar Mesa reached on a fielder’s choice and Lang advanced to third. Lang scored the go-ahead run on a safety squeeze bunt by Tim Colwell.

St. Paul was able to break through and seize the lead for good in the sixth. Willie Cabrera and Henry Wrigley both singled to center. Cabrera and Wrigley moved to second and third on a sac bunt by Angelo Songco. A walk of Jake Taylor then loaded the bases. A one-out double to right from Keith Brachold changed the Saints fortunes and gave them a 3-2 lead as Cabrera and Wrigley both scored. Joey Becker followed with a double to right that brought home Taylor for the game’s final run.

On the mound, Robert Coe picked up the victory for St. Paul. Coe (5-6) went six innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Patrick Johnson suffered the loss for Sioux City. Johnson (6-5) pitched five-and-two-thirds and allowed four earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Dan Sattler hit a batter and walked one in the ninth but earned his 18^th save of the season.

The Saints outhit the Explorers 11-8. Amos Ramon led the X’s with a 2-for-4 day and an RBI. For St. Paul, Willie Cabrera went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Devin Thaut also had three hits. Henry Wrigley and Joey Becker each collected two hits. Keith Brachold drove in two on the difference-making double. There were no errors in the game.     

Sioux City continues a seven-game road trip in St. Paul with the second of four Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 at Midway Stadium. After a three-game set in Gary, the Explorers are back home against Lincoln on August 14^th. For ticket information and promotion specials at Lewis & Clark Park, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.