Kris Sanchez rounds third after hitting a three-run homer against Sioux Falls.SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Kris Sanchez blasted a three-run homer off Peter Gehle as Sioux City earned a split with their I-29 rivals from Sioux Falls with a 3-2 win Sunday night.
Sanchez finished the game 2-for-4.
Explorers ace Nick Schumacher picked up his fifth win of the season, tossing seven innings of five-hit baseball.
The Pheasants got to Schumacher early taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with an RBI single from Cristian Guerrero. Three innings later Cesar Nicolas doubled that lead with a solo home run to left.
Schumacher bounced back and didn't allow any Sioux Falls players to advance past second the rest of the night.
A couple of base running blunders hurt the X's from producing in the early innings.
After a leadoff single by Brandon Newton to start the game, Gehle promptly picked him off at first. Newton argued and was ejected.
In the second following a Ryan Priddy single, Yusuke Inoguchi took a big turn around second and was cut down on the relay.
With the bases loaded in the fourth, Gehle was able to get Mike Murphy to ground out to third to avoid any damage.
But, an inning later Sanchez turned on Gehle's offering and sent it over the left-center field wall, collecting his ninth homer of the year giving Sioux City a 3-2 lead.
Chris Bodishbaugh finished things off in the ninth, picking up his 11th save of the season.
Sioux City hits the roads for a three game series against Kansas City beginning Monday.
