AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Canaries grab series lead with win

Published on August 25, 2008 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Canaries took a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-five American Association North Division Playoff Series with a 2-1 win over the Sioux City Explorers on Monday night at the Birdcage. Pat Mahomes gave up just one run while striking out eight in 7.2 innings to lead the Canaries to victory.

Sioux City threatened in the top of the first inning. Jason Tuttle reached on an infield single and was sacrificed to second on a Nick McCoola bunt. After Alex Llanos walked, Walter Young flew to deep centerfield to advance Tuttle to third. With runners on the corners and two outs, Mahomes struck out Chris Grossman to end the Explorer threat.

The Canaries took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kennard Bibbs drew a lead-off walk to get aboard. After advancing to second on a single by Grant Richardson and getting to third when Will Smith grounded into a double-play, Bibbs was 90 feet away from scoring the game's first run. Beau Torbert came up with two outs and singled off the left-field wall to plate Bibbs for a 1-0 lead.

The game remained 1-0 as Mahomes and Sioux City starter Cam Cheek dueled through the first six innings. The Explorers finally got one off Mahomes when Young homered to right field to open the seventh. Grossman followed with a single and advanced around to third on a pair of groundouts. Sioux City's second attempt to score the go-ahead run from third ended the same as their first, with Mahomes ringing up a strikeout. Chad Gabriel went down swinging and the game remained tied, 1-1.

The Birds took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Ben Van Iderstine singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Patrick Reilly. Van Iderstine got to third on a wild pitch that walked Paul Smyth. That brought Tim Hutting to the plate with runners on the corners and one out. Hutting singled to score Van Iderstine for a 2-1 lead.

With a runner on and two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Kris Regas came into the game for the Canaries. Regas struck out Alex Llanos to end Sioux City's last threat. Regas sat down the side in order in the ninth to close out a 2-1 win and put the Canaries ahead in the series 1-0.

Pat Mahomes (1-0) got the win for the Canaries. Cam Cheek (0-1) suffered the loss allowing two runs on six hits in 6.1 innings. Regas struck out two in retiring all four he faced for his first playoff save.

Game two of the American Association North Division Playoff Series takes place on Tuesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium, beginning at 7:05 p.m. Southpaw Ryan Ford (13-6, 2.77) will get the start for the Canaries against Sioux City ace right-hander Alexander Francisco (12-1, 3.31)

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American Association Stories from August 25, 2008


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