Canaries Rally and Hold on to Beat Saints, 10-9
Published on June 22, 2008 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
St. Paul, MN - The Sioux Falls Canaries (26-15) rallied from down 5-0 and withstood a rally from the St. Paul Saints (23-18) in the waning moments of the game, as the Birds claimed a 10-9 win on Sunday afternoon at Midway Stadium. Paul Smyth hit two home runs, including the go-ahead grand slam, as the Canaries increased their division lead to three games over the Saints.
The Saints capitalized on Canaries mistakes to take a big lead in the bottom of the third inning. Josh Womack led off with a walk and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Priddy. Scooter Jordan followed with a ground ball to Canaries shortstop Tim Hutting. Hutting bobbled the ball, and Jordan was able to reach on Hutting's error. Julius Thames came up with runners at the corners and hit a line drive at Canaries first baseman Patrick Reilly. Reilly knocked the ball down, but was unable to pick it up and everyone was safe. Following back-to-back Canaries errors the bases were loaded. Tim Brown singled to score Womack for a 1-0 Saints lead. Marcel Longmire added two more runs on a bases loaded double to plate Jordan and Thames. The three-run lead was extended to four on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Sullivan, and the five-run inning was capped off by a single by Brent Krause to bring in Longmire. After three innings, the Saints led the Canaries 5-0.
The Canaries got one back in the fourth. Beau Torbert and Josh Patton started the inning with back-to-back walks. After Ben Van Iderstine grounded into a double play that erased Torbert from the bases, Patrick Reilly singled to score Patton and put the Canaries on the board, 5-1.
St. Paul matched the Canaries fourth inning run in the home half of the inning. Ben Thomas doubled and scored on a two-out single by Scooter Jordan. Thomas' run gave the Saints back their five-run lead, 6-1.
The Birds plated one in the fifth. Paul Smyth led off the inning with a solo home run and the Canaries were within four, 6-2.
The Canaries big comeback came in the sixth. The Birds loaded the bases on a double by Will Smith, Torbert being hit by a pitch, and Patton walking. Van Iderstine hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Smith and put the Canaries within three, 6-3. Reilly drew a walk to bring Smyth to the plate with a Canary perched on every bag. Smyth hit his second home run of the game, a grand slam, to put the Canaries ahead, 7-6. Later in the inning, Kennard Bibbs doubled and scored on a single by Grant Richardson for an 8-6 lead.
St. Paul got one back in the bottom of the sixth. Brent Krause and Ben Thomas hit back-to-back doubles. Krause scored to pull the Saints within one, 8-7.
The Birds did just enough to put the game out of reach in the ninth inning. Smith opened the inning with a single. Ryan Grant pinch ran for Smith and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Torbert. After Patton was intentionally walked, Van Iderstine came through with a two-run single to score Grant and Torbert, giving the Canaries a three-run lead, 10-7.
The Canaries use every bit of their lead in holding on for the win on Sunday afternoon. With two outs the Saints rallied. Longmire singled and Sullivan walked to bring the tying run to the plate. Krause doubled to score Longmire and send Sullivan to third. Thomas singled to plate Longmire and put Krause, the tying run, on third. With the Canaries clinging to a 10-9 lead, Kris Regas got Womack to flyout for the final out of the game preserving the 10-9 win.
Ryan Ford (5-3) picked up his fifth win in his last six starts, going 5.1 innings and giving up seven runs, only two earned, on eight hits. Craig Mollderm (0-3) gave up the go-ahead grand slam to Paul Smyth and took the loss for the Saints. Kris Regas picked up his league leading 14th save of the season.
The Canaries return to the Birdcage on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. for the first game in a three-game series with the Sioux City Explorers. Monday's game will pay tribute to 20 years of COPS, presented by Graham Organization.
American Association Stories from June 22, 2008
- AirHogs Win Sixth Straight In Twelve Innings - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Gabriel's Grand Slam keys a 9-2 X's win at Lincoln - Sioux City Explorers
- Lincoln bats fall silent as X's win series - Lincoln Saltdogs
- El Paso takes season finale - Wichita Wingnuts
- The Diablos outlast the Wingnuts 5-2 - El Paso Diablos
- Saints Week Ends With Another Blown Lead, Lose 10-9 - St. Paul Saints
- Canaries Rally and Hold on to Beat Saints, 10-9 - Sioux Falls Canaries
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