BIRDS SHUT OUT X’S TO WRAP UP SERIES SPLIT
Ventura Spins Seven Inning Gem Again Against Sioux City
Sioux City, IA (July 15, 2021) – Angel Ventura tossed seven innings of shutout baseball for the Sioux Falls Canaries who kept the X’s off the scoreboard to earn a split of the four games series taking the finale by a score of 2-0.
Ventura (4-5) came into the game with historical success against the X’s. He had a career 1.84 ERA after two starts with Milwaukee back in 2019 and he continued that success. He allowed only six total base runners in his seven innings of work on three hits and three walks while also striking out six.
Only one Sioux City Explorer reached third base against him in the ball game as he kept the X’s bats in check all night long en route to the third shutout loss of the year for Sioux City.
Now through three career starts versus the Explorers, Ventura has allowed four runs, three being earned in twenty-one and two-thirds innings of work while striking out 19 and walking seven, fashioning an ERA of 1.25.
On the other end for Sioux City their starting pitcher Brett Adcock (2-6) pitched well, earning his first quality start of the season but was handed the tough luck loss. He gave up two runs on six hits while walking five and striking out six.
Sioux Falls was able to get on the board in the second inning with a two out RBI single from Wyatt Ulrich. And they added another run in the fifth when Trey Michalczewski grounded into a fielder’s choice with one out and a runner at third to give the Birds the two runs they would need.
The Explorers pitching staff was not as sharp as they usually have been as they issued a season high ten walks in the game.
Caleb Frare earned his fourth save of the season and second of the series by striking out the side in order after allowing a lead off double in the ninth inning.
Sioux City will hit the road for a pivotal weekend series against the Cleburne Railroaders which begins on Friday in Cleburne, Texas at 7:06 pm. The X’s will send rookie right hander Jonah Smith (0-2, 9.00) to the mound to face off against righty Garrett Alexander (6-4, 5.83) for the Railroaders.