712.277.WINS (9467)

Rosemont, IL - The Sioux City Explorers beat the Chicago Dogs today by a score of 7-2 to win the inaugural series from Chicago. 

The Explorers got off to a fast start in the first inning again as Michael Lang tripled to right field with one out in the top of the first and scored as Jay Austin doubled to left center field to make it 1-0 X’s. 

Sioux City struck again in the top of the second as Jay Baum lead things off with a double down the right field line. He then advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher and then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Dexture McCall making it 2-0 Sioux City. 

James Dykstra was the starting pitcher for the Explorers in this one today but he was only able to go one scoreless inning as he left this game with an injury. Dykstra had left his last start after 3.2 innings with a blister on his pitching hand. 

Ryan Flores came in and replaced Dykstra in the second inning and was spectacular for the X’s. Flores (5-1) picked up the win by going 5 shut out innings for Sioux City allowing only 3 hits, not walking anyone and striking out 4 Dogs. 

Sioux City gave him some run support in the fifth when Dexture McCall lead off the inning reaching on an error by the second baseman. Dylan Kelly then walked and Daniel Jackson moved both of them over with a sacrifice bunt. The Dogs then intentionally walked Luis Durango to load the bases with one out trying to set up an inning ending double play. Lang hit a ground ball to the second baseman, a Taylor made double play ball but he was able to beat out the would be inning ending double play and scoring a run for the X’s. Making it 3-0 Sioux City. Austin then singled in another run making it 4-0 X’s. 

The X’s tacked on three more runs in the sixth as Jay Baum singled with one out. McCall followed with a double. Dylan Kelly drove them both home with a double. Kelly then stole third and scored on a Daniel Jackson sacrifice fly making it 7-0 Sioux City. 

Chicago scored twice in the eighth once on a double by Edwin Arroyo and then he scored on a single by Jose Benson making it 7-2 Explorers. 

Sioux City was able to take two of three games in the three game trip to Chicago to improve to 38-13 on the season. The X’s will have a day off on Thursday before returning to Sioux City to begin a three game series with the Lincoln Saltdogs on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05.