712.277.WINS (9467)

The Sioux City Explorers get the series victory over St. Paul, winning two out of the three games played by getting the 4-3 victory Thursday night at Lewis and Clark Park. Tim Colwell knocked in two clutch runs with a triple in the eighth inning to help earn the victory. 

St. Paul scored the first run of the game in the second inning, Angelo Soncgo crossed home from third base off an error by the pitcher to take the early 1-0 lead. 

Explorers knocked in their first in the third. Tim Colwell reached first on a fielders choice, moved to third on a groundout to second base and scored off an RBI single ripped by X’s left-fielder Brent Keys to tie it at 1-1 a piece. 

The Saints answered in the sixth inning, jumping ahead 3-1 over Sioux City. Angelo Soncgo led-off the top half with a base-hit single to start the inning, and Saints catcher Joey Paciorek smashed a two-home run to retake the lead by two runs. 

Extra base-hits was the name of the game for Sioux City in the eighth inning, knocking in three huge runs to take the lead 4-3 over St. Paul. X’s designated hitter lined a two-run triple in the gap to tie it at 3-3. Later in the inning, Brent Keys knocked in Colwell for the second time in the game with an RBI single. 

In the ninth inning, X’s closer Jose Flores pitched a scoreless ninth to close it out and get his nineteenth save of the year. Explorers right-hander Ryan Strufing (1-0) received the no decision allowing three runs (two earned) in 5.1 innings. X’s reliever Jimmer Kennedy (2-0) received his second win of the season, going an inning without a run allowed. 

St. Paul’s starting pitcher Jeff Shields (11-2) was charged with the loss giving up four runs on ten hits with two strikeouts in seven innings pitched. The Saints fall to 59-18 on the season while the Explorers improve to 57-19. 

Sioux City’s hot-bats were Matt Koch, Tommy Mendonca, Brent Keys and Tim Colwell. X’s catcher Matt Koch went 2 for 3 with two doubles and a run scored. Tommy Mendonca had two hits and a run. Left-fielder Brent Keys knocked in two with a pair of RBI singles, and Tim Colwell tripled with two RBIs and a pair of runs. 

The Sioux City Explorers will take on the Kansas City T-Bones in a four game set at Lewis and Clark Park (August 14-17th). For additional information, please call 712-277-WINS (9467) or email [email protected]