Sioux City Explorers Steal One in 10th, Defeat Wichita Wingnuts 5-4
The Sioux City Explorers entered their four-game series with the Wichita Wingnuts six victories away from tying the Wingnuts American Association record of 73-wins set last season. The visitors wanted to ensure that they did all they could to stop that record from falling. Sioux City won the first two games of the series before falling Saturday night, and looked like they would fall in the final contest of the series as well. Unfortunately, the Explorers proved that they are never out of a game, scoring three in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, and one in the bottom of the 10th to win 5-4.
Wichita started Tim Brown and he was absolutely brilliant on the night, leaving with his club leading 4-1. Brown went 7 innings, allowing just 5 hits and 1 earned run, while striking out 2. He gave the Wingnuts every reason to believe that they were going to leave Iowa with the split. This especially appeared clear after Wichita scored two in the top of first against Ryan Strufing.
Nick Van Stratten walked to begin the inning, then stole second before moving to third on a ground out. Brent Clevlen walked to put runners at first and third with one out, but Strufing came up with a big pitch to get the dangerous Andy LaRoche to pop out for the second out of the inning. The brought T.J. Mittelstaedt to the plate, who has been absolutely on fire of late. He took a ball, then laced the next pitch to the wall for a double. Both Van Stratten and Clevlen came in to score and it was 2-o Wingnuts.
In the sixth the visitors extended their lead. LaRoche began the inning by drawing a walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice by Mittelstaedt. After retiring the next batter the Explorers starter was replaced by Jimmer Kennedy. He walked Harrison Kain and on ball four the ball got away, scoring LaRoche to make it 3-0.
In the seventh both teams got a run. The Wingnuts got theirs thanks to a two-out double by Jayce Ray to keep the inning going. Clevlen followed with a single that scored Ray to make it 4-0.
Brown had been absolutely dominant all game long. He allowed three singles through the first six frames, and two of those he erased with double-play grounders. He was just one over the minimum number of batters retired through six.
In the seventh Sioux City was finally able to get one run. Michael Lang began the inning by drilling a ball to the wall that he legged into a triple. Rene Tosoni followed with a single to score Lang, making it 4-1. Brown remained as cool as ever following the run, getting another double-play before retiring the final batter of the inning. He had pitched a gem, and turned it over to his bullpen.
In the bottom of the eighth the Explorers threatened when the first two hitters reached on singles, and were then sacrificed into scoring position. It looked like they may score at least two, but reliever Alex Boshers got himself out of trouble with a comebacker and then a ground ball to second to end the inning.
In the ninth Wichita turned to closer Paul Smyth, who had been an absolute beast since joining the club. He retired the first hitter, but then got himself in trouble by issuing back-to-back walks to Tosoni and Brock Kjeldgaard. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position, and Noah Perio followed with a double that easily scored both runners. That made it a one-run game and the Explorers were not done. Ryan Court followed with a single to score Perio and the game was tied.
Rob Wort had relieved in the eighth and was absolutely brilliant. He remained on the hill into the 1oth and finally allowed his first base runner to reach since coming into the game. Clevlen led off with a single and moved to third when Mittelstaedt singled two batters later. However Wort struck out John Nester and got Kain to fly out to end the threat.
In the bottom half of the inning Daniel Bennett came on for Wichita. He struck out the first batter he faced but then gave up a single to Matty Johnson. Johnson then stole second before Lang was hit by a pitch. With Tosoni at the plate both runners successfully moved into scoring position on stolen bases, forcing the Wingnuts to walk Tosoni to load the bases. Bennett struck out Kjeldgaard to set up the dramatic conclusion. Perio took the first three pitches for balls, then took a called strike to make it 3-1. He then walked to bring home Johnson with the winning run.
Wort (10-3) earned 10th win of the season, all in relief, an absolutely amazing record. He pitched 3 innings, allowing just 2 hits, while striking out 5. Bennett (0-8) took the loss.
Boxscore Provided by the American Association
By Robert Pannier