Early Leads Doesn't Hold
Published on July 26, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
Wichita, KS - The Sioux Falls Canaries (6-10) took a 6-0 lead after a half-inning, but ended up losing 10-9 to the Wichita Wingnuts (7-10) on Sunday evening at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Birds left a season-high 17 men on base.
The Canaries scored six times while sending 11 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning. Tim Hutting doubled and got to third on a single by Cody Haerther. A single by Beau Torbert brought home Hutting for a 1-0 lead. After an errant pick-off throw advanced Torbert to second and Haerther to third, Cory Harris hit a groundball to the shortstop that saw Haerther thrown out at home plate. With Gabe Medina on the brink of getting out of the inning, the Canaries got three consecutive hits. Trevor Lawhorn doubled to bring home Torbert, Patrick Reilly singled to bring in Harris and Lawhorn, and J.D. Reininger singled to get on base. After Ken Lup walked to load the bases, Joe Anthonsen singled to score Reilly and Reininger. After a half inning, the Canaries were out in front 6-0.
Wichita scored twice in the bottom of the first. Josh Horn singled and scored on a double by Stephen Pearson. Pearson then came home on a single by Dustan Mohr. After one inning, the Canaries led by four, 6-2.
The Wingnuts did all the scoring in the second inning, scoring five runs to take the lead. With the bases loaded, Stephen Pearson grounded into a fielder's choice to score Patrick Brooks and make it a 6-3 game. With runners on the corners and two outs, Mohr hit a ground ball through the legs of Canaries first baseman Patrick Reilly. The error allowed Brenan Herrera to score and cut the Birds lead to two, 6-4, however more importantly it prolonged the inning. The next batter was Kelly Hunt, and Hunt hit his 12th home run of the season. Hunt's three-run blast gave the Wingnuts a 7-6 lead.
The Birds went back in front in the third. With the bases loaded and two out, Beau Torbert singled to bring home Ken Lup and Tim Hutting, giving the Birds an 8-7 advantage over the Wingnuts.
Wichita tied the game in the fourth inning. With two outs, Mohr took Pat Mahomes deep to centerfield, evening the score, 8-8. The home run for Mohr was his eighth of the season.
The Canaries broke the tie in the sixth inning. J.D. Reininger doubled and scored on a two-out single by Anthonsen. Reininger's run put the Birds back in front, 9-8.
The lead would be short lived. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Mohr singled and Hunt followed with his second home run of the game. Hunt's 13th homer of the season gave the Wingnuts a 10-9 lead.
The Birds best chance to tie the game came in the eighth inning. Reininger started the inning with a double. Lup laid down a bunt to sacrifice him to third and the Canaries were left with runners on the corners when a throw to try and get Reininger at third came in late. After Anthonsen walked to load the bases, Hutting had a chance to tie the game. Hutting hit a comeback ground ball to the pitcher. Richard Salazar went home with his throw to force out Reininger, and a relay to first base was good for a double play. After Cody Haerther walked to re-load the bases, Beau Torbert had a bases loaded opportunity. Torbert hit a 2-0 pitch on the screws, but lined out to third baseman Greg Porter, ending the inning with the bases loaded. The missed opportunity all but sealed the 10-9 loss.
Doug Hurn (3-1) got the win throwing two innings of relief for Wichita. For the Canaries, Ryan Grant (1-2) gave up Kelly Hunt's sixth inning home run to take the loss. Joe D'Alessandro allowed just one base runner in the ninth for his fifth save of the season.
The Canaries now head to St. Paul where they will begin a four-game series with the Saints on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. The Birds return to Sioux Falls Stadium next Friday, when they host the Wichita Wingnuts at 7:05 p.m. Next Friday's game will feature Post-Game Fireworks presented by Sanford Health.
American Association Stories from July 26, 2009
- Pelicans Sweep X's - Sioux City Explorers
- Hunt Powers Wingnuts to Comeback Win - Wichita Wingnuts
- Early Leads Doesn't Hold - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Dane DeValk Pitches Complete Game Shutout - Pensacola Pelicans
- American Association Recap - AA
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