SIOUX CITY, IA- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Sioux City Explorers 2-1 on Thursday night at Lewis and Clark Park.
Wichita finished off a four-game sweep and won their fifth game in a row, while improving to 7-0 against the Explorers this season.
The Wingnuts took a first inning lead for the second straight night. Nick Blasi and Josh Horn drew four-pitch walks to open the game. Two batters later, Dustan Mohr singled through the left side to score Blasi and give the Wingnuts a 1-0 lead.
The Explorers tied it in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Walter Young. The Wingnuts however took regained the lead in the next half inning. Josh Horn singled with one out. After Greg Porter flew out to right field, Horn advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dustan Mohr was then intentionally walked. With Kelly Hunt at the plate with two on and two out, X's starter Trevor Fox uncorked two more wild pitches, the last of which allowed Horn to score the go-ahead run.
Brad Davis turned in a terrific start, allowing one run on five hits in eight innings of work. The left-hander walked two and struck out one, needing just 96 pitches in his eight frames.
Doug Hurn, Richard Salazar, and Justin Young combined to work a scoreless ninth inning and preserve the win. Young got former Wingnut Derek Schermerhorn to hit into a forceplay to end the game with the tying and winning runs on base.
Greg Porter extended his hitting streak to 15 games in a row with a seventh inning double.
With the St. Paul Saints' loss to Sioux Falls, the Wingnuts' magic number to clinch the American Association North is down to five with nine games remaining in the first half.
The Wingnuts return home tomorrow night when they host the St. Paul Saints at 7:05 p.m Wichita sends right-hander Gabe Medina to the mound against Saints' righty Reed Dickert. The first 1,000 fans in attendance receive a Kevin Hooper bobblehead doll, courtesy of Big Fish Bail Bonds. The Wingnuts also host their weekly Friday postgame autographs, courtesy of KFDI. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-4625.
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