Explorers claim 10th straight win
By Steven Allspach, Journal sports writer | Posted: Monday, July 16, 2007
Pity the St. Joseph Blacksnakes.
They coil, snap and strike at you at times, but then seem to eventually get drained of venom when they've got a American Association baseball rival backed into a corner.
It happened to the snakebitten Snakes again Sunday when the lost a 6-5 lead and the game to the Sioux City Explorers, who rallied to win their 10th straight game, 11-6.
The reeling Snakes lost their 12th straight game, a modern American Association record, eclipsing an 11-game tumble Texas franchise Coastal Bend took last season in the newly-formed independent circuit.
"I like the way my team battled back, but I also liked the way St. Joseph hung in there and competed,'' said Sioux City Manager Ed Nottle. "I'll tell you what, winning 10 games is a mighty good feeling considering what we went through the first half.
"We've never given up in any game this season, win or lose, and that's why I'm so proud of this club.''
The X's continued to burn a swath through the second half of the American Association North Division, lighting up the Snakes for three first-inning runs en route to the win.
It took a rally and Jason Tuttle's two-run double in the sixth, though, to keep the streak alive.
Slumping St. Joe actually took a 6-5 lead with a three-run sixth inning, all off Sioux City starter Alex Francisco, but the Snakes self-immolated in the sixth and seventh, giving up three runs in each frame.
Sioux City's three tallies in the seventh were all of the unearned variety with Ed Nottle's resurgent club, now 11-2, benefiting from an error, three walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball and just two singles, one an RBI line drive by Pete Pirman.
"When you're winning every pitch seems to be the one to hit,'' said Tuttle. "You go up there relaxed without any pressure.
"I hit a fastball and it was the pitch I was looking for. We're on a roll, but it'll be nice to get a couple days off, rest up and continue this the rest of the way.''
While the second half has been heavenly for the X's, it's been hell for the Snakes.
The Snakes won their second-half opener, but haven't tasted victory since. The X's, meanwhile, took an opposite track, losing two of three in Lincoln before launching their current streak.
The Explorers, who wriggled off the hook Saturday, surviving a three-run ninth-inning rally to win 5-4, take the next two days off for the league All-Star game Tuesday in Sioux Falls and open a four-game road trip Wednesday at St. Paul.
Seven of Sioux City's next 10 games are with St. Paul, second in the North with a 9-4 record after sweeping Shreveport Sunday, 4-3 and 7-4.
Paul Wiechard, the lone St. Joseph player selected for the All-Star Game, bashed his third homer of the season in the fifth with his opposite-field shot clearing the fence in front of the light pole in left.
Curt Miaso, the No. 9 batter in the St. Joe lineup, played an unlikely major role in the offense. The .220 hitter laced a two-run single scoring Jake Whitesides and David Fowler in the fourth and also reached on a bunt single in the third.
Miaso was also at the plate in the sixth when Cameron Cheek, the second of six Sioux City pitchers, uncorked a wild pitch that let Whitesides score. Two pitches later Miaso bounced a single up the middle, scoring Dylan Parzyk to knot the game at 5-5.
The Snakes took the lead 6-5 when Casey Gordon walloped a triple to the wall in right plating Maiso.
Consecutive singles by Pete Pirman, Jake Daubert, Jorge Moreno and Alex Llanos and a one-out single by Brandon Jones, produced Sioux City's three runs in the first. Tuttle also delivered an RBI single in the fourth and Pirman laced an run-scoring single in the seventh.
Mark Goodman, who relieved starter Kellen Raab, was saddled with the pitching loss.
Joel Schmal, the third Sioux City hurler, picked up the win to go to 2-0, after working just two-thirds of an inning. Brett Reid, Mike Nunes and Matt Wilkinson also worked in relief as Nottle used six pitchers for this first time this season.
Nunes, on the injury shelf with arm problems, made his first appearance since May 27.
X's and OH's: American Association Commissioner Miles Wolff was in Lewis and Clark Park for the game. The commish said he was pleased to see Sioux City turning its season around after the 15-33 first half. "We might not have a Northern League 15 years ago if Sioux City hadn't built a new park,'' said Wolff. "I'm amazed at all the building and expansion near the Lewis and Clark. It shows what a positive influence the park and tean has been on the community.''....
The X's open a four-game series Wednesday in St. Paul with Brad Guy making his final start and appearance of the season for Sioux City....
Weichard, who hit the fifth-inning homer, is the lone Blacksnake with a batting average above .300. He came into the Sunday contest hitting .318. The St. Joe team batting average of .241 coming into the game was 26 points lower than the next team above them in the hitting department, Pensacola....
They coil, snap and strike at you at times, but then seem to eventually get drained of venom when they've got a American Association baseball rival backed into a corner.
It happened to the snakebitten Snakes again Sunday when the lost a 6-5 lead and the game to the Sioux City Explorers, who rallied to win their 10th straight game, 11-6.
The reeling Snakes lost their 12th straight game, a modern American Association record, eclipsing an 11-game tumble Texas franchise Coastal Bend took last season in the newly-formed independent circuit.
"I like the way my team battled back, but I also liked the way St. Joseph hung in there and competed,'' said Sioux City Manager Ed Nottle. "I'll tell you what, winning 10 games is a mighty good feeling considering what we went through the first half.
"We've never given up in any game this season, win or lose, and that's why I'm so proud of this club.''
The X's continued to burn a swath through the second half of the American Association North Division, lighting up the Snakes for three first-inning runs en route to the win.
It took a rally and Jason Tuttle's two-run double in the sixth, though, to keep the streak alive.
Slumping St. Joe actually took a 6-5 lead with a three-run sixth inning, all off Sioux City starter Alex Francisco, but the Snakes self-immolated in the sixth and seventh, giving up three runs in each frame.
Sioux City's three tallies in the seventh were all of the unearned variety with Ed Nottle's resurgent club, now 11-2, benefiting from an error, three walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball and just two singles, one an RBI line drive by Pete Pirman.
"When you're winning every pitch seems to be the one to hit,'' said Tuttle. "You go up there relaxed without any pressure.
"I hit a fastball and it was the pitch I was looking for. We're on a roll, but it'll be nice to get a couple days off, rest up and continue this the rest of the way.''
While the second half has been heavenly for the X's, it's been hell for the Snakes.
The Snakes won their second-half opener, but haven't tasted victory since. The X's, meanwhile, took an opposite track, losing two of three in Lincoln before launching their current streak.
The Explorers, who wriggled off the hook Saturday, surviving a three-run ninth-inning rally to win 5-4, take the next two days off for the league All-Star game Tuesday in Sioux Falls and open a four-game road trip Wednesday at St. Paul.
Seven of Sioux City's next 10 games are with St. Paul, second in the North with a 9-4 record after sweeping Shreveport Sunday, 4-3 and 7-4.
Paul Wiechard, the lone St. Joseph player selected for the All-Star Game, bashed his third homer of the season in the fifth with his opposite-field shot clearing the fence in front of the light pole in left.
Curt Miaso, the No. 9 batter in the St. Joe lineup, played an unlikely major role in the offense. The .220 hitter laced a two-run single scoring Jake Whitesides and David Fowler in the fourth and also reached on a bunt single in the third.
Miaso was also at the plate in the sixth when Cameron Cheek, the second of six Sioux City pitchers, uncorked a wild pitch that let Whitesides score. Two pitches later Miaso bounced a single up the middle, scoring Dylan Parzyk to knot the game at 5-5.
The Snakes took the lead 6-5 when Casey Gordon walloped a triple to the wall in right plating Maiso.
Consecutive singles by Pete Pirman, Jake Daubert, Jorge Moreno and Alex Llanos and a one-out single by Brandon Jones, produced Sioux City's three runs in the first. Tuttle also delivered an RBI single in the fourth and Pirman laced an run-scoring single in the seventh.
Mark Goodman, who relieved starter Kellen Raab, was saddled with the pitching loss.
Joel Schmal, the third Sioux City hurler, picked up the win to go to 2-0, after working just two-thirds of an inning. Brett Reid, Mike Nunes and Matt Wilkinson also worked in relief as Nottle used six pitchers for this first time this season.
Nunes, on the injury shelf with arm problems, made his first appearance since May 27.
X's and OH's: American Association Commissioner Miles Wolff was in Lewis and Clark Park for the game. The commish said he was pleased to see Sioux City turning its season around after the 15-33 first half. "We might not have a Northern League 15 years ago if Sioux City hadn't built a new park,'' said Wolff. "I'm amazed at all the building and expansion near the Lewis and Clark. It shows what a positive influence the park and tean has been on the community.''....
The X's open a four-game series Wednesday in St. Paul with Brad Guy making his final start and appearance of the season for Sioux City....
Weichard, who hit the fifth-inning homer, is the lone Blacksnake with a batting average above .300. He came into the Sunday contest hitting .318. The St. Joe team batting average of .241 coming into the game was 26 points lower than the next team above them in the hitting department, Pensacola....
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