Canaries, Explorers Split Doubleheader
August 14, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - Beau Torbert's three-run homer lifted the Sioux Falls Canaries (13-20) to a 7-6 win in game one of a doubleheader with the Sioux City Explorers (11-22), but game two would not feature a successful comeback as the Birds fell 8-3 in the nightcap.
In game one, Sioux City took an early lead by scoring the game's first three runs. With two men on base in the first inning, Justin Nelson doubled up the first base line to plate Boomer Berry and Alex Llanos for a 2-0 advantage. Then in the second inning Dustin Jones reached on an error by Canaries third baseman Trevor Lawhorn before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Derek Schermerhorn.
The Canaries stormed back to tie the game with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Beau Torbert walked to start the inning, and Cory Harris followed with a single that left runners on the corners for Lawhorn. The third baseman singled to score Torbert and get the Birds on the scoreboard, 3-1. After a sacrifice bunt by Patrick Reilly, J.D. Reininger singled to score Harris and Lawhorn, tying the game, 3-3.
In the third inning, the Canaries took the lead. Joe Anthonsen started the inning with a single, to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Anthonsen, who would extend his hitting streak to 14 games with a ninth-inning single in game two, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tim Hutting and to third on a groundout by Cody Haerther. After Torbert was hit by a pitch, Harris singled to score Anthonsen and give the Canaries a one-run lead, 4-3.
Sioux City jumped back in front with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Jino Gonzalez faced Greg Stevens. A wild pitch allowed Nick McCoola to score and tie the game, 4-4. Stevens then doubled to drive in two more runs and give the Explorers a 6-4 lead.
The lead was short-lived for Sioux City. In the bottom of the fifth, the Canaries took the lead back. A single by Hutting and a bunt single by Haerther put the tying runs on base for Beau Torbert. Torbert did more than just tie the game, as a three-run homer over the wall in left-field gave the Birds back the lead. Torbert's seventh home run of the season was the difference in the game, as the Birds went on to win 7-6.
Jino Gonzalez (3-5) gave up six runs, five earned, on six hits in five innings to get the game one win for the Canaries. Trevor Fox (5-3) suffered the loss for Sioux City allowing seven runs on eight hits. Aaron Cotter preserved the lead in the final inning for his sixth save of the season.
Game two of the doubleheader did not turn out as well for the Canaries. Sioux City
knocked around Noel Baca for eight runs on 10 hits, including six runs in the second inning, as the Explorers built an 8-0 lead. Boomer Berry lead the way offensively for Sioux City, going 4-for-4 with his first home run of the season, three RBI and two runs scored.
Offensively, the Canaries did too little, too late. Torbert tripled in the sixth inning to score Haerther to put the Canaries on the scoreboard, 8-1. In their last at-bat, the Canaries got down to their final out, before five consecutive singles scored two runs and pulled the Canaries within five, 8-3. Sioux City brought in closer Brett Reid who got Kyle Eveland to ground out with the bases loaded, stopping the Canaries comeback bid and ending the ballgame.
Baca (3-4) suffered the loss, his third in five starts. Ty Marotz (4-9) got the win for Sioux City, allowing three runs on 10 hits in the victory. In getting the final out, Reid picked up his 16th save of the season.
The Canaries and Explorers will continue the four-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. on "Let's Make A Deal Night: A Tribute to Classic Game Shows."
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