Pheasants Finish off Fargo-Moorhead with Series Sweep
Published on August 7, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
FARGO, N.D. - On Sunday afternoon, the Sioux Falls Pheasants had no trouble picking up where they left off on Saturday against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
The Pheasants took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning before rain halted play in the middle game of the three-game series on Saturday. Play resumed on Sunday, and the Pheasants rolled to an 11-0 shutout victory. The seven-inning series finale followed, and the Pheasants blanked the RedHawks again, 4-0. Pheasants pitching combined to hold Fargo-Moorhead scoreless in the final 18 innings of the series.
The Pheasants improved to 38-41 and have rattled off five consecutive wins, matching a season high. They have won two consecutive series for the first time this season.
In the first game, the Pheasants capitalized on three walks from RedHawks starter Zach Ward (4-6), the last drawn by Francisco Leandro with bases loaded for the Pheasants' first run. Henry Contreras followed with a two-run single for a 3-0 lead. The Pheasants added a run in the fourth and fifth innings before piling on six runs in the final two frames.
Pheasants starter Adam Cowart tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings with just two hits allowed on Saturday night. Reliever Brandon Rapoza (4-10) took over on Sunday and completed the shutout, yielding four more hits in the final 5 2/3 innings. He earned his first relief win.
Gus Milner went 4-for-6 with two RBI to lead the Pheasants. Joe Anthonsen had a pair of a singles and runs scored, and Mark Shorey belted his ninth home run of the year.
In the finale, Ben Moore (12-2) tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout in seven innings. Behind six strikeouts, Moore earned his 12th victory, a new career high. It is just the fifth time in franchise history a pitcher has collected a dozen wins or more, second to Ryan Ford's 13 wins in 2008. Moore allowed six base runners, just two of which reached second base.
The Pheasants scored all four runs with two outs in the third inning. Shorey's infield single allowed Gus Milner to score from second. Brandon Sing followed with an RBI double, and Francisco Leandro hit a ball that hugged the right field line for a run-scoring triple. After Henry Contreras walked, Hunter Jobes capped off the rally with a single to right field.
Jake Laber (8-6), who had previously thrown a one-hitter against the Pheasants, took the loss for Fargo-Moorhead.
Milner again had four hits, including a double and a run scored. Milner went 9-for-16 in the series with five runs scored and three RBI. He raised his team-best average to .354.
The Sioux Falls Pheasants move on to face the first-place Winnipeg Goldeyes for a four-game series. The opener is set for 7:05 p.m. on Monday, August 8 in Winnipeg. The game will be broadcast on Sioux Falls Sports Radio 1230-AM KWSN and www.kwsn.com.
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