Magic number down to three after win
Published on June 23, 2008 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Canaries (27-15) won their third in a row and lowered their magic number to three with a 9-2 win on Monday night over the Sioux City Explorers (19-25). Any combination of Canaries wins and St. Paul Saints losses adding up to three will give the Canaries the First Half North Division Championship.
The Explorers opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on an unearned run. Juan Camacho and Chris Grossman started the inning with back-to-back singles. One out later, Anton French grounded to second baseman Josh Patton. Patton tagged second and threw errantly to first base. The error allowed Camacho to come in and score for an early Explorers lead, 1-0.
The Canaries answered in the third inning. Grant Richardson doubled and advanced to third when Beau Torbert reached on an error by Explorers third baseman Juan Camacho. The Birds then executed a double steal with Torbert taking second and Richardson scoring to tie the game, 1-1.
In the fourth inning, Patrick Reilly reached first base after getting beaned by pitcher Tim Layden. Reilly was hit by a pitch for the 15th time this season to tie the American Association record set by Carlos Sepulveda for El Paso and Fort Worth in 2006. Reilly took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Paul Smyth to put the Canaries in front 2-1. Smyth scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Kennard Bibbs, and the Canaries led by a pair, 3-1.
The Explorers would scratch across one more run in the fifth frame, though once again it would come as an unearned run. With the bases loaded, Chad Gabriel scored from third base when Smyth over-threw starting pitcher Travis Kane, leaving the ball rolling in front of short stop Tim Hutting. Kane prevented any further damage out of the jam, and after five the Canaries led 3-2.
In the sixth inning the Canaries tallied another run as Smyth scored on a Hutting single to left field giving the Birds back a two-run advantage, 4-2.
The bats erupted in the eighth inning for the Canaries as Patton led off the inning with a solo homer, his sixth of the season. A singles parade put on Ben Van Iderstine, Reilly, Bibbs, and Richardson. The latter two singles scored the first two hitters, and Will Smith singled to bring in Bibbs and Richardson for the 9-2 final.
Travis Kane (5-2) beat the Explorers for the third time this season, and Tim Layden (2-4) took the loss for Sioux City.
Tomorrow night the Canaries take on the Explorers at the Birdcage, in a Siouxperior Guaranteed Win Night presented by Advertising Arts. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
American Association Stories from June 23, 2008
- American Association Recap June 23 - AA
- Diablos rout Pelicans - El Paso Diablos
- Magic number down to three after win - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Diablos rout Pelicans - El Paso Diablos
- Wingnuts throttle Sports - Wichita Wingnuts
- Cats claim first-half title with win - Fort Worth Cats
- AirHogs dropped 9-1 - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- X's pitching fails them in loss - Sioux City Explorers
- Canaries clobbers their way to win - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Gardner shuts down Saints - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints blanked for first time this season in loss - St. Paul Saints
- Canaries guarantee win on Tuesday - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Vinnie DeChristofaro Tabbed Pitcher of the Week - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Saints and TDS Metrocom to Honor Vietnam Vets July 4 - St. Paul Saints
- âNuts Shake Up Roster - Wichita Wingnuts
- Saints Sign Two Former Top Four Draft Picks - St. Paul Saints
- Saltdogs Sign Three, Deal for Rights to Machado - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Team guarantees AirHogs victory or fans receive a free ticket. - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- American Association Recap - AA
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