Pheasants Pound St. Paul in Series Finale
Published on July 20, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
SIOUX FALLS- On a sweltering afternoon at Sioux Falls Stadium, the Sioux Falls Pheasants' bats were just as hot in the series finale with the St. Paul Saints.
The Pheasants used six extra base-hits to drop the Saints, 14-6, Wednesday in a game they never trailed.
It began as a pitcher's duel between the Pheasants' Adam Cowart and Saints' Kyle Carr. But when both teams went to their bullpens, the offenses took over.
A bases-loaded double by Brandon Sing highlighted a four-run fifth inning in which the Pheasants jumped to a 5-0 lead.
The Saints got on the board in the sixth when Sheldon hit a two-run home run to cut the Pheasants' lead to 5-2 and end Cowart's afternoon.
The Pheasants responded again with three runs in the sixth, including Brandon Sing's second run-scoring double. Sing finished 2-for-5 with four RBI.
But St. Paul battled back. Ole Sheldon had his own three-run double in the Saints' four-run seventh to cut the deficit to two runs. Sheldon had a five-RBI afternoon.
Sioux Falls put the game away with six runs in the ninth, capped off by a grand slam by Trevor Lawhorn, his second of the season.
"This is the type of game we are capable of," said manager Steve Shirley. "Sometimes it's baffling to us when it doesn't happen more often, because we know this is what we are capable of doing."
Cowart (5-4) was outstanding in collecting the win, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeout in five-plus innings.
"I was just trying to get ahead of guys because my last couple starts I was falling behind 2-0, 3-0 and I was really struggling," Cowart said. "I just wanted to get ahead and rely on our defense."
The Pheasants' starter, who had lost his last three starts, was in a jam early. Back-to-back hits by Sheldon and Jason Cooper put runners at second and third with two outs. But Richard Mercado's weak line drive found the glove of Sing to end the threat.
Cowart settled in after the first, retiring 12 straight batters before giving up a two-out double to Jonathan Van Every in the top of the fifth.
"Adam has had a little bit of an elbow issue recently, so he hasn't been able to do too much in between starts," Shirley said. "Today he finally looked like he was back throwing at 100 percent."
The Saints spotted the Birds a run in the fourth, when Gus Milner scored on an error by shortstop Steve Mays.
Carr (1-1) had control issues throughout the game, administering five walks and hitting one batter in five innings pitched. Of the 119 pitches he threw, 57 were balls.
The two teams combined for 13 extra-base hits. Of the Saints' eight hits, six were doubles.
The win improves the Pheasants to 28-36.
Following an off day Thursday, the Pheasants continue the home stand as they take on the North Division-leading Winnipeg Goldeyes at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, July 22, at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Pheasants' popular fireworks show follows the game, sponsored by Sanford Health.
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