712.277.WINS (9467)

BOX SCORE

Grand Prairie, TX-Late-inning heroics by the Explorers pushed them to a 7-3 victory over the AirHogs in game two of the series Tuesday night at QuikTrip Park.

With the win, Sioux City (19-27) took a one-game lead in the season series with Grand Prairie. The Explorers opened the scoring right out the gates in the first. Oscar Mesa singled on the infield to lead off the game. Tim Colwell followed with a fielder’s choice. Colwell then scored on a double by Rene Tosoni.

Grand Prairie (18-27) pulled even in the third. Alex Nunez reached with a one-out single. Abel Nieves also singled to push Nunez to second. Jason Botts reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corners. A single by Brian Myrow brought Nunez home for a 1-1 tie.

The Explorers reclaimed the lead in the fourth. After two quick outs, Amos Ramon singled. The next batter, Dillon Usiak, drove in Ramon with a triple.

The AirHogs took their first and only lead of the night in the fifth. Jimmy Mojica led off with a walk. Alex Nunez attempted a sac bunt and reached on an error while Mojica advanced to third. A sac fly to center from Abel Nieves drove in Mojica to tie the game. Jason Botts followed with a double that scored Nunez for a 3-2 Grand Prairie lead.

The next two innings were scoreless before Sioux City struck in the eighth. Following a pitching change that relieved Grand Prairie starter and former Explorer Jason Jarvis, Tim Colwell led off the inning with a walk. After an out, Andres Perez singled and runners were at first and third. Peter Barrows then attempted a squeeze bunt and reached on a fielder’s choice as an error on the pitcher allowed Colwell to score for a 3-3 tie. The game-changing blow was delivered by Amos Ramon as he launched a three-run home run to deep left for a 6-3 X’s lead. It was Ramon’s second homer of the season, and his second in as many nights. Sioux City added a single tally in the ninth for the final score.

Rene Tosoni, Amos Ramon, and newcomer Chris Escobar all had two-hit games for the Explorers. Ramon scored twice and had three RBIs. Alex Nunez, Abel Nieves, and Brian Myrow all had two hits for the AirHogs. Nunez scored twice.

On the mound, Alex Pagano received a no-decision in an emergency start. Reliever Geoff Broussard posted the win. Broussard (4-1) worked three innings and gave up just two hits with three strikeouts and no walks. TyRelle Harris took the loss in relief for Grand Prairie. Harris (1-2) pitched one inning and allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits with one strikeout and one walk. He gave up the home run in the eighth.

Sioux City finishes off the Texas road swing Wednesday with an early game against Grand Prairie. First pitch is set for 11:05 a.m. Following the series with the AirHogs, the Explorers return home to face Wichita July 3^rd through 5^th. For ticket information and promotion specials at Lewis & Clark Park, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.