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AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Canaries Bite Snakes, 8-7

July 10, 2007 - American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Canaries (4-4) battled their way to an 8-7 win over the St. Joe Blacksnakes (1-7) on Tuesday night at the Birdcage. The win was the team's fourth in a row.

The battle began in the first inning with the Blacksnakes jumping to an early lead. Casey Gordon reached on an error by second baseman Cameron Coughlan. Jake Whitesides followed with a triple to score Gordon, 1-0 Snakes. Whitesides came around to score on Andy Wilson's single to right field to give the Snakes a 2-0 lead. Wilson worked his way around the bases with a stolen base, and then advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Tim Marks. David Fowler reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Wilson to cross home for a three-run Blacksnakes lead, 3-0.

The Canaries came right back in the bottom of the first. Juan Figueroa doubled down the left field line and Ben Van Iderstine walked to put runners on first and second. Abner Arroyo singled up the middle driving in Figueroa and Van Iderstine. At the end of the first inning, the Canaries trailed by one, 3-2.

In the top of the third, the Snakes extended their lead by one with a solo homer by Andy Wilson, his first of the year, 4-2 Snakes.

The Birds evened out the game in the home half of the third. Coughlan led off with a walk and advanced to third on a singled by Will Smith. With runners on the corners, Van Iderstine singled to left center, advancing Will Smith to second and scoring Coughlan to pull the Canaries within one, 4-3. Arroyo followed with a singled bringing Will Smith home from second to tie the game, 4-4.

The Blacksnakes took a run back in the top of the fourth with their second of three solo home runs on the night. With two outs in the inning, Gordon hit his first homer of the year to give the lead back to St. Joe, 5-4.

The Birds tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Will Smith singled, advanced to second, and then scored on Arroyo's third straight single of the night, 5-5. Arroyo finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI.

In the top of the seventh inning, Jake Whitesides hit his second home run of the season to give the Snakes a 6-5 lead.

The Canaries took the run back, and more, in the bottom of the seventh. Orlando Miller and Coughlan hit back to back singles to lead off the inning. Miller and Coughlan advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by Figueroa and came around to score on single by Van Iderstine to give the Birds their first lead of the game, 7-6.

The lead did not last long. In the top of the eighth inning, Chad Sosebee drew a walk, and advanced to second on a single by Terry Robles. Sosebee crossed home on a single Curt Miaso to tie the game, 7-7.

The game was decided in the ninth inning when the Canaries strung together three consecutive base runners. Coughlan and Figueroa walked. Will Smith singled through the right side allowing Coughlan to score and giving the Birds the 8-7 win.

Kirs Regas (2-2) earned his second win of the year striking out three batters in 1.2 innings of relief. Canaries' starter Micah Posey received no decision, but struck out a season-high ten batters in seven innings of work. Vinny DeChristafaro (4-7) suffered the loss for the Blacksnakes.

The Canaries and Snakes wrap up their series on Wednesday night, when the Canaries will hold a "Star Wars 30th Anniversary Celebration."

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