LeVon Washington Doubles to Give Explorers Second Straight Walk-Off Win, 9-8
For the second straight night, the Sioux City Explorers saw a lead evaporate in the ninth inning. However, for the second straight night, the team rallied to earn a walk-off win, this time on a double by LeVon Washington to down the Wichita Wingnuts 9-8. Tyler Ogle had 3-hits and drove home 2, and Eudor Garcia had deuces wild, adding 2-hits, 2-runs and 2-RBI in the victory.
The first inning was a wild one to say the least. In the top half of the inning, Wichita put up four to take the lead. Tyler Sullivan led off the game with a double and moved to third when Christian Stringer followed with a single. Next up was Brent Clevlen, who lined a base hit into left that made it 1-0 Wingnuts. T.J. Mittelstaedt was the next batter and he scorched a line drive to the wall that he legged out for a triple. Both runners came around to score and Wichita was ahead 3-0. Two batters later, Mittelstaedt came home on a sacrifice fly by Martin Medina and the lead was four.
Amazingly, that lead completely evaporated in the bottom half of the inning. Tony Campana led off the frame with a single against Jordan Cooper and scored when Joe Bennie doubled into center. Bennie moved to third on a fly out before Tyler Ogle crushed his third home run of the season to make this a one-run game. Eudor Garcia then delivered his first homer of the year, as the back-to-back home runs tied the score. LeVon Washington followed by drawing a walk and moved to second on a ground out. He scored on a Dre Gleason single and the Sioux City Explorers had the 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Explorers extended their lead to three. With one down, Bennie doubled for the second time in the contest. Jayce Ray then singled, bringing Bennie around to score. Ogle followed with a double, moving Ray to third and he scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 7-4.
Wichita would cut the deficit to two in the fourth. Richard Prigatano singled to start the inning and moved to second on a base hit by Brennen Salgado. A fielder’s choice put Leo Vargas at first and Prigatano at third, and the runner at third came home on a wild pitch to make it 7-5.
In the eighth, Wichita tied the score. Matt Chavez began the inning by grounding a single into left field. The left fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Chavez to move into second. Brad Orosey retired the next two hitters, but Salgado came up with a clutch hit, singling into right to score Chavez to make this a one-run game. The Explorers called on closer PJ Francescon to end the threat, but Vargas greeted him with a single that scored Salgado to tie the score at seven.
In the bottom half of the inning, Sioux City took the lead right back. Tanner Vavra walked to start the inning and scored when Campana followed with a double to make it 8-7.
In the top of the ninth, the Wingnuts tied the score once again. Sullivan started the inning with a base hit and moved to second when Brent Clevlen walked two batters later. T.J. Mittelstaedt followed with a base hit that plated Sullivan and the game was tied at eight.
For the second straight night, the Explorers had given up the lead in the ninth, but they would mount their own ninth inning rally for the second night as well, earning back-to-back walk-off victories. Mike Devine retired the first batting of the inning, but Eudor Garcia reached on a single. Next up was LeVon Washington, who ripped a double on the first pitch he saw. Garcia came all the way around to score and Sioux City was victorious, 9-8.
PJ Francescon (3-2) earned the victory. Tyler Ogle was 3-5 with a run and 2-RBI. Eudor Garcia was 2-5 with 2-runs and 2-RBI. Joe Bennie was 2-5 with 2-runs and an RBI. The Wichita Wingnuts offense was led by T.J. Mittelstaedt, who was 3-4 with a run and 3-RBI.
The Sioux City Explorers go for their third straight win against Wichita on Saturday. Alex Bosher (9-3, 3.35) goes for the Wingnuts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
By Robert Pannier