SIOUX CITY, Iowa—The Sioux City Explorers (56-31) flexed their depth and energy in an 9-3 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes (37-49), seizing a series win at Lewis & Clark Park. A burst in the first and another brilliant performance from a southpaw proved to be a recipe for a successful Sunday afternoon.
Riding their momentum from the night before, the Explorers ripped five consecutive singles to open the bottom of the first inning. D’Shawn Knowles knocked in the game’s first run with an RBI single to right. Henry George scored on the same play via an error by the right fielder, Max Murphy.
Josh Day stepped in next and pushed another base hit through the right side, bringing Zac Vooletich around to score. Day broke for second on the next pitch, and Knowles darted for the plate on catcher Kevin Garcia’s throw down to second. Knowles scored as the Explorers stole home for the seventh time this season and opened up a 4-0 lead against Landen Bourassa (5-4) before Winnipeg retired a batter.
After a rough first inning, Bourassa settled in and retired nine of the next ten batters. The Alberta native couldn’t slow the Explorers’ offense.
The X’s scratched another run across against the right-hander on Austin Davis’s RBI single in the fourth inning. On the next pitch, Davis added to Sioux City’s historic season, swiping his 50th base of the season, setting a new single-season record for the organization.
Now pitching with a lead, Sioux City’s starter Austin Drury (7-2) was dialed in. The left-hander surrendered a run in both the third and the fifth, but otherwise it was a classic Drury outing. He pitched to contact, utilizing the off-speed when necessary, and worked his way through seven solid frames.
While their hurler was dominating, the Explorers continued to provide offensive support. The X’s loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Torin Montgomery lifted Zan Rose’s 1-2 pitch deep enough to center to score Vooletich from third.
The bats kept rolling into the seventh inning as Michael Escotto knocked in a pair with an RBI single. Davis came around to score on a wild pitch in the following inning, increasing the X’s advantage to 9-3.
Rookie right-hander Ryan Beaird took over in the eighth and gave up his first run as a professional. Brett Matthews came on in the ninth and finished off the contest as the Explorers came away with a series victory. The X’s also added a game to their lead in the West Division as Kansas City fell to Kane County in Geneva.
The Explorers will be off Monday, August 18, then will host the Lincoln Saltdogs in a three-game series from Tuesday, August 19 through Thursday, August 21. For media requests, please feel free to reach out at 817-739-3693. Tickets for all Explorers home games can be purchased online as XSBaseball.com or in person at the Lewis and Clark Box Office.
Notes from the Booth with DV:
-The Explorers now lead the season series at 5-4.
-The Explorers do not have a losing record against any of their American Association foes.
-Austin Davis stole his 50th in the fourth inning to set a new single season high in Explorers history. He now is one off the league lead trailing Jarius Richards of Gary SouthShore by one base 51 to 50.
-The X’s have 234 stolen bases for the season and lead the next closest team by 107. That is Lake Country.
-Josh Day had his team leading 27th multi-hit game.
-Sioux City now has a magic number of 9 for the West Division crown.
-Austin Davis had his team leading sixth three hit game.
-Austin Drury recorded his 16th career win for Sioux City. He is sixth all time in X’s history and his five strikeouts move his career total to 289 and is second all-time in club history.
-It was the team’s 40th quality start in 87 games and the Explorers are 31-9 in those games.