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BOX SCORE

Kansas City, KS-The Explorers let a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning slip away as the T-Bones scored five times in an 8-5 victory Wednesday afternoon at Community America Ballpark.

Sioux City (12-21) walked a total of nine batters and had its three-game win streak snapped. The X’s four-game road win streak also came to an end. Kansas City (15-17) opened the scoring in the second inning. A two-out rally began with back-to-back walks of Darrell Hudson and Danny Masiello. Hudson then stole third before Robby Kuzdale doubled to left for a 1-0 lead. An infield single by Bryan Sabatella scored Masiello and it was 2-0 T-Bones.

Sioux City jumped on Kansas City starter and former Explorers pitcher Andy Noga with a three-run fourth. Andres Perez led off with a single to left. A double to right by Rene Tosoni pushed Perez to third. The very next batter, Nate Samson, doubled to left and cleared the bases for a 2-2 tie. With one out, a ground out by Peter Barrows drove in Samson for a 3-2 X’s lead.

The T-Bones put up a single tally in the fifth to tie it. After two straight scoreless innings, a two-out home run in the eighth by Andres Perez broke the tie and gave Sioux City a 4-3 advantage. It was the first homer of the season for Perez.

The bottom of the eighth proved to be the difference for Kansas City. Byron Wiley walked to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt pushed Wiley to second. Robby Kuzdale then walked. A single to center from Bryan Sabatella scored Wiley to tie the game. David Espinosa reached on a walk to load the bases. Danny Richar broke the deadlock with a bases-clearing triple to left. Richar scored another T-Bones run and it was 8-4 when the dust settled. Peter Barrows homered in the top of the ninth for the final Sioux City run. It was his third home run of the season.

On the mound, X’s starter John Straka received a no decision. Straka went six innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and five walks. Alex Burnett took the loss in relief. Burnett (1-1) pitched one inning and allowed five earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and three walks. Kris Regas posted the win in relief for Kansas City. Regas (2-1) worked one-and-a-third and gave up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout. T-Bones pitching gave up two solo home runs but did not walk a batter on the day. The nine walks issued by Sioux City was the most in a game this season.

At the plate for the Explorers, Rene Tosoni went 3-for-4 with three doubles and a run scored. Andres Perez was 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored. Bryan Sabatella led the T-Bones attack with a 3-for-5 game. He drove in two and scored a run. Danny Richar had a two-hit day with three RBIs and two runs scored.          

Sioux City closes out its three-game series in Kansas City Thursday night with the rubber match at 7:05. The Explorers will return for a seven-game home stand that starts Friday, June 20^th against rival Sioux Falls. For ticket information and promotion specials at Lewis & Clark Park, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.