Canaries split series with RailCats
Published on June 22, 2004 under Northern League (NL)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
(GARY, INDIANA) â Felix Pagan led off the ninth with a solo home run but his run was the last the Canaries would get as the Gary SouthShore RailCats topped the Birds for the second straight night, 9-4, to tie the series at two apiece.
The Canaries had the early lead and after six innings, they led 3-2 before allowing the RailCats to score four times in the seventh inning, with three of the runs scoring on bases-loaded singles by Kenny White and Juan Tolentino. Gary would add three more in the eighth innings.
In the pivotal frame, Rich Rodrigues ripped a one-out double down the left-field line. Curt Lee lined a single to push Rodrigues to third. Dustin Knight, a rookie playing his first professional game, fouled off four pitches, including two full-count offering from Sioux Falls starter Cory Walters, before drawing a walk to load the bases. Knight was the last batter Walters would face.
Reliever Brandon Sloan was called upon to get out of a bases-loaded jam for the second time in the series, allowing all three inherited runners to score. White lined an 0-2 pitch into left field to plate Rodrigues with the tying run, before Juan Tolentino stroked a two-run single into right field to put the RailCats ahead 5-3. A fourth run later scored on a throwing error on a potential inning-ending doubleâplay ball.
Felix Pagan had two hits and drove in three runs for the Canaries, giving Sioux falls a 2-1 lead with a two-run single in the third inning and socking a leadoff homer in the ninth. Ron Wright plated the other run for the Canries, with a go-ahead RBI-double in the fifth inning that put the Canaries up 3-2.
Bryan Shartzer (1-0) earned the win in relief for the RailCats, pitching 2.1 innings. Chris Andel got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by getting Clark Parker to ground into an inning-ending double play, then worked the ninth for his fourth save.
With the loss the Canaries drop their second straight to split the series against Gary, falling to 10-20 while the RailCats get their fourth win of the month and move to 10-21
The Canaries have an off-day Tuesday, but travel to Kansas City, Kan. to play the T-Bones in a four-game series beginning Wednesday night. Josh Merrigan will start for the Birds. The Birds return home to send a "Salute to Firefighters" on Sunday, June 27, as they take on the Lincoln Saltdogs at 5:04 p.m.
Northern League Stories from June 22, 2004
- Canaries split series with RailCats - Sioux Falls Canaries
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- Flyers 'Walk Off" Again In Eleventh - Schaumburg Flyers
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- Loaded for Cats - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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