712.277.WINS (9467)

Wichita, KS-----C.J. Ziegler's two-out bases loaded single  in the 11th inning Friday gave Wichita a 6-5 victory over the Explorers at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.  The Wichita win snapped a three-game winning streak by the Explorers and spoiled the starting debut of righthander Colin Allen who pitched seven innings, gave up seven hits, four runs and had a no-decision. 

The Explorers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Wally Backman, Jr. singled, stretching his hitting streak to 15 games and scored on a single by Jorge Delgado.  Wichita tied the game in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by John Rodriguez, his 13th of the year.  Sioux City took the lead in the second  3-1 on a two-run double by Mike Murphy.  Ziegler had a solo home run in the fourth inning, his 15th of the season that pulled the Wingnuts to within one run 3-2.  The X's increased their lead to 5-2 when Peter Barrows doubled to drive home one run and Delgado singled to drive home another run in the fifth inning.  Wichita would score single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to tie the game at 5-5 and win the game in the 11th on Ziegler's bases loaded single off losing pitching Chuck Lukanen.  The second game of the three-game series will be played Saturday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium with game time 7:05.