AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Moore Fans 14 for New Sioux Falls Team Record

Published on August 2, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


SIOUX FALLS- After being named pitcher of the month in July, Sioux Falls Pheasants starter Ben Moore began August with a career performance.

Moore (11-2) set career and franchise records with 14 strikeouts, leading the Pheasants to a 9-6 victory over the St. Paul Saints on Tuesday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Moore became just the eight pitcher in team history to notch 11 or more wins in a single season. He is tied for the league lead in victories.

After the Saints took a 4-2 lead with a three-run fourth inning, Moore took over. The right-hander struck out five of the next six batters he faced, and the records started to fall.

"The first four innings were bad, but the next three were very good." Moore said. "In the first four, I had no command of my fastball, so it felt like I was pitching away from hitters.

Moore eclisped his career high and tied the franchise record in one at bat as Ronnie Bourquin became his 12th strikeout victim for the first out in the sixth. Two batters later, Moore made history by fanning Alex Garabedian for his 13th strikeout.

The previous record belonged to Jamie Ybarra, who fanned 12 on August 27, 1994, against Thunder Bay.

"Ben did a great job," said manager Steve Shirley. "The funny thing about striking a lot of guys out is that it takes a lot of pitches to do that. We know that he is capable of not just throwing a lot of pitches, but absorbing a lot pitches as well."

Just as Moore began to cruise, the Pheasants' offense went into overdrive. Sioux Falls plated seven men in the fifth and sixth innings to retake the lead and give their starter plenty of run support.

The three-run fifth inning gave the Pheasants back the lead. Brandon Sing's two-run double evened the score, and Francisco Leandro doubled with two outs to drive in Sing to put Sioux Falls ahead, 5-4.

Gus Milner capped the four-run sixth with a two-out, bases-clearing double to break the game open. Milner has 21 RBI when hitting with two outs and runners in scoring position.

"Gus has been tremendous all year for us," Shirley said. "He is an excellent ball player, he can do a lot of things well for us, and we are lucky to have a guy like him around."

Aaron Cotter allowed a hit but nothing more in the ninth for his 11th save of the year.

Saints starter Matt Long (6-8) took the loss, allowing eight runs, six earned, on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The win snapped the Pheasants' three-game losing streak, improving their record to 34-41.

The Pheasants will go for the series victory in the rubber game, starting at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, at Sioux Falls Stadium. It is Dog Days of Summer. Fans can bring out their four-legged best friends to the ballgame. Dog "tickets" are just $5 and support the Dakota Dachshund Rescue. It's also Ladies Night. Women of all ages can purchase tickets for just $5.

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American Association Stories from August 2, 2011


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