Pheasants Lose Wild One To St. Paul
Published on July 18, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
SIOUX FALLS- The Sioux Falls Pheasants squandered a one-run lead in a tight ball game against the wild card-leading St. Paul Saints.
The Pheasants spoiled a stellar start by Kyle Ruwe, stumbling in their 3-2 loss in 11 innings to St. Paul in the series opener Monday at Sioux Falls Stadium.
With the Sioux Falls leading 2-1 in the ninth, Aaron Cotter retired the first two batters before St. Paul loaded the bases. With pinch-hitter Alex Garabedian at the plate, Cotter's 0-1 pitch bounced to the backstop, and Ronnie Bourquin slid under the tag to tie the game at 2-2.
The Saints took their first lead of the game in the 11th, as Jonathan Van Every singled to drive in Richard Mercado and put St. Paul ahead, 3-2.
"This was a win we gave back," said manger Steve Shirley. "It doesn't matter if it's against St. Paul or Fargo-Moorhead or whoever. At this point, we have to win games."
St. Paul reliever Kyle Foster (3-1) recorded the win, pitching three scoreless innings.
Reliever Dan McDaniel (1-2) took the loss, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts in two innings.
The Pheasants' starter rolled through the Saints lineup early, retiring the first 10 batters he faced. Justin Snyder broke up the no-hit bid on a single with one out in the fourth.
Ruwe's counterpart Matt Long kept the Bird's bats in check for much of the game. His first mistake came in the fourth, when Mark Shorey launched his eighth home run of the season to break the scoreless tie.
"I thought both starters pitched great tonight," said Shorey, who finished 2-for-5 on the night. "We just had a couple miscues defensively that cost us."
Ruwe continued to cruise, retiring the lead-off batter in each of the first six innings. He allowed two hits in seven innings.
Trailing 1-0 in the seventh, the Saints rallied when Ole Sheldon led off with a triple. Following a walk to Jason Cooper, Ruwe uncorked a wild pitch to score Sheldon, tying the game at 1-1. The right-hander retired the next three batters to strand Cooper at third, holding St. Paul to just one run.
In the bottom half, Sioux Falls responded. Hunter Jobes walked and Kevin Carby singled to put runners at the corners with one out. Will Richards then hit deep fly ball to center, allowing Jobes to score easily to retake the lead, 2-1.
Long gave up two runs on six hits through eight innings.
The loss drops the Sioux Falls to (27-35), ten games back of wild-card leader St. Paul.
The two teams take the field in for game two of the three-game division series at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, at Sioux Falls Stadium. It is Double Play Tuesday. Fans can purchase two tickets for the price of one.
American Association Stories from July 18, 2011
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