712.277.WINS (9467)

Grand Prairie, TX- The Sioux City Explorers made it back-to-back wins over the AirHogs Saturday night winning with a score of 8-4. 

The X’s scored early and often during the 8-4 rout over Grand Prairie. In the first, X’s right-fielder Michael Lang did all the damage. Lang hit a one-out single to start, he then stole second base, moved to third on an error by the catcher and then scored on a wild pitch. 

Grand Prairie answered right away plating three of their four runs in the first inning. Lead-off man Jordy Hart doubled to start off, moved to second on a walk, advanced to third on a groundout and then scored off a wild pitch. With one man on and two outs, AirHog catcher Zane Chavez smashed an RBI triple to plate the second run of the game. Chavez later scored on a wild pitch in the inning. 

Sioux City and Grand Prairie both scored a run in the second. Tommy Mendonca hit a sac-fly RBI to centerfield for the X’s, and AirHog third-baseman Trevor Harden knocked in a run for Grand Prairie. 

Neither team scored again until the fifth when the X’s took fire. Matt Koch started the inning off with a single, he then scored on the next at-bat when Tommy Mendonca smashed an RBI double to score him. X’s centerfielder Matty Johnson doubled which moved Mendonca to third. On the next at-bat Michael Lang walked to load the bases with no outs, and the number three and four hitters in the lineup due to bat. Rene Tosoni hit a sac-fly to right field to score Mendonca, and designated hitter Brock Kjeldgaard sac-flied to left to score Johnson. After five innings of play, the X’s led 5-4 over Grand Prairie. 

Sioux City scored three more runs in the ninth inning to put the game out of reach for the AirHogs winning it with a final score of 8-4. In the inning, Michael Lang was responsible for scoring all three runs, when he hit a towering three run homer that scored Johnson and Mendonca. 

Starting pitcher Jeff Marquez (3-0) received the win on the night, going 5.2 inning, allowing four runs, on six hits, four walks, while striking out four. Rob Wort, Will White, Billy Bullock and Jose Flores all pitched in relief for the X’s. Brett Wallach (0-1) was charged with the loss for Grand Prairie. The right-hander pitched six innings while allowing five runs on six hits and three walks. 

Michael Lang and Tommy Mendonca had the hot-bats for Sioux City on the night. Lang went 3 for 4 with two runs, three RBIs, a homer and a stolen base. Mendonca had two hits, two runs, two RBIs and a double in the contest. The big hitter for the AirHogs was catcher Zane Chavez who went 2 for 4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. 

The Explorers play finish the series with Grand Prairie on Sunday (June 7th), then they’ll start a three game set vs Amarillo on Monday. For 2015 ticket information at Lewis and Clark Park, call (712) 277-WINS or visit the X’s website at www.xsbaseball.com