712.277.WINS (9467)

The Sioux City Explorers won game game two of their four game series with Winnipeg by a score of 9-6 Tuesday Night. X’s centerfielder Matty Johnson was on fire having a 4 for 5 night with two runs, three RBIs, a triple and a stolen base. 

In the bottom half of the first, Winnipeg plated the first four runs in the game off two base-hit RBI singles by Casey Haerther and Brad Boyer, and a Josh Mazzola two-run triple hit to center field. 

Sioux City plated their first two runs in the second and third innings, a Tommy Mendonca 6-4-3 double play would score a runner from third in the second, and a 4-3 RBI groundout by Rene Tosoni plated Matty Johnson from third base. 

In the fourth the X’s bats took fire plating five runs off five hits and an error. Tim Colwell knocked in the first run off an RBI double, Matty Johnson tripled to score two, Michael Lang knocked in Johnson on a single to left, and Brock Kjeldgaard knocked in the seventh run for Sioux City off an RBI single. After five innings, Explorers led the Goldeyes 7-4.

Winnipeg cut the lead in innings six and seven plating a run in each, Ryan Babineau singled to right scoring a runner from third in the sixth. In the seventh, a Jon Weber single scored Adam Heisler from second base. 

In the eighth, Tommy Mendonca was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Matt Koch walked to put runners at first and second, both runners advanced a base on a 5-4 sacrifice. With runners at second and third and no outs, Matty Johnson ripped an RBI single to extend the lead 8-6. The Explorers extended the lead even further in the ninth, off a solo home run by X’s third baseman Tommy Mendonca. 

In the bottom of the ninth, X’s closer Jose Flores (s-10) went 1-2-3 to get the save and seal the win for Sioux City 9-6. Starting pitcher Eric Wordekemper (2-0) received the win for the Explorers going five innings, allowing five runs, on seven hits and five walks. Losing pitcher for Winnipeg was relief pitcher Mark Pope (1-2) who gave up five runs in the one inning that he pitched.

Matty Johnson was the hot hitter in Winnipeg having himself a four hit night, with two runs, three RBIs, a triple and a stolen base. Explorers finished with nine runs on thirteen hits, Winnipeg six runs-ten hits. 

The Explorers will play game three of their four game series vs Winnipeg tomorrow at 4:00. For 2015 ticket information at Lewis and Clark Park, call (712) 277-WINS or visit the X’s website at www.xsbaseball.com