Birds Get Outslugged
August 1, 2007 - American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Canaries (13-13) fell short in a 10-7 slugfest with the Sioux City Explorers (14-12) on Wednesday night at the Birdcage. The game was delayed for one hour thirty-three minutes rain in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Canaries were the first to score. Matt Imwalle led off the second inning with a double to right center. Orlando Miller with his fourth home run of the year, over the left field wall, to lift the Birds to an early 2-0 lead.
The Explorers came right back with one run in the top of the third inning. Billy Cox singled up the left field line and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ramon Navarro. Jason Tuttle doubled, scoring Cox, 2-1 Canaries.
In the fourth inning, the Explorers tied up the game on a Brandon Jones' first home run of the year. Entering the rain delay, the teams were tied, 2-2.
After the rain delay, the Canaries regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, by taking advantage of four Explorers' errors, scoring three runs. Jake Smith singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Explorers' third baseman, Brandon Jones. Cameron Coughlan reached first on an error by first baseman, Jake Daubert. The error allowed Smith to score, 3-2. James Shanks reached on Jones' second error of the inning, putting runners on first and second. Juan Figueroa reached on a fielder's choice, placing runners on the corners. A throwing error by second baseman, Alex Llanos, allowed Coughlan to score from third to give the Canaries a 4-2 lead. Figueroa worked his way around the bases, advancing to second on a passed ball, to third on a ground out by Ben Van Iderstine, and to home on a wild pitch. At the end of five innings, the Canaries were up 5-2.
The Explorers answered quickly with one run in the top of the sixth. An error by Canaries' third baseman, Matt Imwalle, allowed Jorge Moreno to reach first. Moreno proceeded to steal second and go on to third on a throwing error by catcher, Jake Smith. Jones singled to right field, driving in Moreno to bring the Explorers within two, 5-3.
Sioux City took the lead in the seventh. Billy Cox led off the inning with his second home run of the season, and pulled the Explorers within a run, 5-4. Navarro was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a double by Pete Pirman. After Jorge Moreno intentionally walked to load the bases, Alex Llanos hit a single to right field, driving in Navarro and Pirman to give the Explorers a 6-5 lead. Llanos stole second putting runners on second and third. Jones drove in Moreno and Llanos on a triple to centerfield. The triple gave Sioux City an 8-5 lead.
The Explorers put two more runs up in the eighth inning. Billy Cox singled and was sacrificed to second base. Jason Tuttle hit a single to left field. Cox scored on the play and Tuttle advanced on the throw, 9-5. Pirman reached on an error by Canaries' first baseman Juan Figueroa. Figueroa then threw the ball away allowing Tuttle to score from third putting the Explorers up 10-5.
The Canaries put together a few runs in the bottom of the ninth. Smith singled and Coughlan doubled putting runners in scoring position to lead off the inning. Smith and Coughlan scored on groundouts by James Shanks and Figueroa bringing the Canaries to the final score of 10-7.
Cameron Cheek (3-0) went six innings allowing five runs, two earned, on eights for the Explorers. Sean Donlin (2-2) suffered the loss for the Canaries pitching 2.1 innings in relief. Matt Wilkinson earned his seventh save of the year.
The Canaries and Explorers finish up their series Thursday night. The first 500 kids at the Birdcage will receive a kids t-shirt presented by South Dakota Safety Council.
American Association Stories from August 1, 2007
- Birds Get Outslugged - Sioux Falls Canaries
- American Association Recap - AA
- The Salt Dogs beat El Paso 12-2 - El Paso Diablos
- Saints Win On Priddy's Game Winner, 10-9 - St. Paul Saints
- Chew On This Michael Vick, St. Paul Saints to Give Out 1500 Chew Toys at August 21 Game - St. Paul Saints
- Pels Air Second Winning Fan Commercial - Pensacola Pelicans
- Saints Snakebitten By St. Joe, Lose By Record Margin Of 17-1 - St. Paul Saints
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
