Explorers split in home debut
Wichita off to 4-1 start
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008
Sioux City's Alex Llanos tags Wichita's Dustan Mohr during a rundown between second and third base during Explorers baseball action at Lewis and Clark Park on Sunday. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
The newest American Association franchise is off and running with a 4-1 start and the Sioux City Explorers are probably happy to see the Wichita Wingnuts leave town.
After sweeping three games from the X's in Kansas last week, the Wingnuts salvaged a split of a doubleheader at Lewis and Clark Park Sunday, putting a damper on the Explorers' home opener. Sunday's twin bill came about after rain washed out Saturday's scheduled home debut.
Alexander Francisco temporarily stopped the bleeding in Sunday's opener, pitching the X's to a 2-1 victory. But the Wingnuts took advantage of a couple of key mistakes and some less-than-stellar pitching, holding on for a 10-6 win in the nightcap.
"We had some mental mistakes in the first game that I really think cost us on the bases," said Wichita manager Kash Beauchamp. "We really didn't execute and came out a little flat, but you can't complain about a 4-1 start.
"It was very exciting in Wichita to get the season opened and get the support we got from the crowd. We had 6,000-plus there both nights and it's exciting to start something new."
Francisco, a 10-game winner for the Explorers last season, spaced eight hits but struck out five in 5 1/3 innings. Ironically, it was Francisco who picked up the X's first mound victory last season.
Juan Camacho belted a two-run homer that flew over the right field foul pole in the bottom of the fourth, which proved to be the only runs the X's would need. Brett Reid relieved Francisco with runners on first and third and two outs in the sixth, retiring Blake Gailen on a fly out to left.
Then, after walking Brenan Herrera to start the seventh, promptly picked him off first base. Reid issued another free pass to Chris Colston, but got the next two batters to fly out, earning a save.
Sunday's doubleheader consisted of two seven-inning contests.
Despite picking up his first victory as Explorers manager, former major leaguer Les Lancaster was none too happy with his troops.
"Technically, we should be at least 4-1," said Lancaster, who pitched seven seasons in the majors, five for the Chicago Cubs. "We gave the three games away in Wichita, then after we won the first game today, the second game was just a circus out there.
"If we make the plays in the second game it's a different story. If we catch the routine ball the runs don't score, but we don't and that opened the gates."
Tim Layden gave up nine hits in three-plus innings in the second game. Layden, though, was the victim of an unfortunate miscue in the third inning that led to three Wichita runs and gave the Wingnuts a 4-0 lead.
With runners on first and second and one out, David Gates lifted a fly ball to right field that Pete Pirman circled under and appeared ready to catch. Pirman, however, lost the ball in the sun, turning what should have been the second out into an RBI double. Michael Thompson then popped out to second for what would have been the third out.
Heath Keel followed with a two-run double to the gap in left-center, making it 4-0. The Wingnuts tacked on four more in the fourth off Kevin Fitzgerald, streaking to an eight-run lead.
The Explorers chipped away, scoring twice in the fourth on an RBI single by Alex Llanos and a sacrifice fly by Chad Gabriel. Chris Grossman's two-run double in the fifth cut the lead in half, but Wichita touched Ty Marotz for two runs on four hits in the top of the sixth.
Sioux City then scored two runs and had the tying run at the plate in its last at-bat without the benefit of a hit. Four walks and an error accounted for the two runs, but Alex Llanos swung at the first pitch with the bases loaded, grounding into a game-ending double play.
"We just have to keep coming out here and playing hard and continue to gel as a team," said X's catcher Grossman, who had two doubles in the second game. "We have a good staff and a good offense, we just have to start putting it together."
Wichita starter Demetri White, who sat out the entire 2007 season, had a no-hitter going until Grossman's two-bagger in the fourth inning. Beauchamp, being extremely cautious with a pitcher who has had some medical problems, took White out of the game after he gave up the hit.
"In my opinion, Demetri is just a scout's eye away from probably getting out of here," said Beauchamp. "He's got a major league fastball and a major league breaking ball. It's just a matter of refining his mechanics."
Camacho's homer in the opener was his second of the season and he's displayed some impressive defense playing both third and first base. Camacho ranked third in the American Association with 75 RBIs for El Paso last season.
The Explorers have today off before beginning a three-game series with St. Paul on Tuesday. Dusty Bergman, the opening-day starter, will take the mound for the X's in the 7:05 game.
X'S AND OH'S: Wichita's White, a 6-1, 200-pound lefthander, missed the entire 2007 campaign after having a blood clot removed from his arm in a procedure where one of his ribs was also removed. The Houston, Texas, native is in his third season of professional baseball, but still has rookie status....
Ramon Navarro started at shortstop for the X's in both games, becoming the third player to start at that spot already this season. Sam Walker started the first two games while Jorge Rodriguez was the starter in the third game at Wichita. Navarro made a couple of dazzling plays and even moved to right field in the second game after Walker pinch-hit for Pirman....
Beauchamp can sympathize with Sioux City's 1-4 start and said he's certain Lancaster will get things turned around quickly. Beauchamp's 2006 Pensacola team started the season 0-9 and wound up winning the first-half championship....
Wichita's Gates needed just a triple to hit for the cycle in the second game after hitting a single, double and homer in his first three at-bats. He settled for a single but wound up 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Gates, too, did not play baseball last season, electing to take the year off....
Sunday's paid attendance was announced at 1,492. The game-time temperature at the start of the doubleheader was 57 degrees.
After sweeping three games from the X's in Kansas last week, the Wingnuts salvaged a split of a doubleheader at Lewis and Clark Park Sunday, putting a damper on the Explorers' home opener. Sunday's twin bill came about after rain washed out Saturday's scheduled home debut.
Alexander Francisco temporarily stopped the bleeding in Sunday's opener, pitching the X's to a 2-1 victory. But the Wingnuts took advantage of a couple of key mistakes and some less-than-stellar pitching, holding on for a 10-6 win in the nightcap.
"We had some mental mistakes in the first game that I really think cost us on the bases," said Wichita manager Kash Beauchamp. "We really didn't execute and came out a little flat, but you can't complain about a 4-1 start.
"It was very exciting in Wichita to get the season opened and get the support we got from the crowd. We had 6,000-plus there both nights and it's exciting to start something new."
Francisco, a 10-game winner for the Explorers last season, spaced eight hits but struck out five in 5 1/3 innings. Ironically, it was Francisco who picked up the X's first mound victory last season.
Juan Camacho belted a two-run homer that flew over the right field foul pole in the bottom of the fourth, which proved to be the only runs the X's would need. Brett Reid relieved Francisco with runners on first and third and two outs in the sixth, retiring Blake Gailen on a fly out to left.
Then, after walking Brenan Herrera to start the seventh, promptly picked him off first base. Reid issued another free pass to Chris Colston, but got the next two batters to fly out, earning a save.
Sunday's doubleheader consisted of two seven-inning contests.
Despite picking up his first victory as Explorers manager, former major leaguer Les Lancaster was none too happy with his troops.
"Technically, we should be at least 4-1," said Lancaster, who pitched seven seasons in the majors, five for the Chicago Cubs. "We gave the three games away in Wichita, then after we won the first game today, the second game was just a circus out there.
"If we make the plays in the second game it's a different story. If we catch the routine ball the runs don't score, but we don't and that opened the gates."
Tim Layden gave up nine hits in three-plus innings in the second game. Layden, though, was the victim of an unfortunate miscue in the third inning that led to three Wichita runs and gave the Wingnuts a 4-0 lead.
With runners on first and second and one out, David Gates lifted a fly ball to right field that Pete Pirman circled under and appeared ready to catch. Pirman, however, lost the ball in the sun, turning what should have been the second out into an RBI double. Michael Thompson then popped out to second for what would have been the third out.
Heath Keel followed with a two-run double to the gap in left-center, making it 4-0. The Wingnuts tacked on four more in the fourth off Kevin Fitzgerald, streaking to an eight-run lead.
The Explorers chipped away, scoring twice in the fourth on an RBI single by Alex Llanos and a sacrifice fly by Chad Gabriel. Chris Grossman's two-run double in the fifth cut the lead in half, but Wichita touched Ty Marotz for two runs on four hits in the top of the sixth.
Sioux City then scored two runs and had the tying run at the plate in its last at-bat without the benefit of a hit. Four walks and an error accounted for the two runs, but Alex Llanos swung at the first pitch with the bases loaded, grounding into a game-ending double play.
"We just have to keep coming out here and playing hard and continue to gel as a team," said X's catcher Grossman, who had two doubles in the second game. "We have a good staff and a good offense, we just have to start putting it together."
Wichita starter Demetri White, who sat out the entire 2007 season, had a no-hitter going until Grossman's two-bagger in the fourth inning. Beauchamp, being extremely cautious with a pitcher who has had some medical problems, took White out of the game after he gave up the hit.
"In my opinion, Demetri is just a scout's eye away from probably getting out of here," said Beauchamp. "He's got a major league fastball and a major league breaking ball. It's just a matter of refining his mechanics."
Camacho's homer in the opener was his second of the season and he's displayed some impressive defense playing both third and first base. Camacho ranked third in the American Association with 75 RBIs for El Paso last season.
The Explorers have today off before beginning a three-game series with St. Paul on Tuesday. Dusty Bergman, the opening-day starter, will take the mound for the X's in the 7:05 game.
X'S AND OH'S: Wichita's White, a 6-1, 200-pound lefthander, missed the entire 2007 campaign after having a blood clot removed from his arm in a procedure where one of his ribs was also removed. The Houston, Texas, native is in his third season of professional baseball, but still has rookie status....
Ramon Navarro started at shortstop for the X's in both games, becoming the third player to start at that spot already this season. Sam Walker started the first two games while Jorge Rodriguez was the starter in the third game at Wichita. Navarro made a couple of dazzling plays and even moved to right field in the second game after Walker pinch-hit for Pirman....
Beauchamp can sympathize with Sioux City's 1-4 start and said he's certain Lancaster will get things turned around quickly. Beauchamp's 2006 Pensacola team started the season 0-9 and wound up winning the first-half championship....
Wichita's Gates needed just a triple to hit for the cycle in the second game after hitting a single, double and homer in his first three at-bats. He settled for a single but wound up 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Gates, too, did not play baseball last season, electing to take the year off....
Sunday's paid attendance was announced at 1,492. The game-time temperature at the start of the doubleheader was 57 degrees.
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