AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Pheasants' rally falls short in ninth

Published on May 18, 2012 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


SIOUX FALLS - The Sioux Falls Pheasants placed the winning run on-base in the bottom of the ninth, but could not overcome the Sioux City Explorers in a 7-6 loss on Friday night at Sioux Falls Stadium.

The Birds showed grit by rallying from a 6-1 deficit in the sixth inning, scoring a run in the sixth and a pair in the seventh and ninth innings.

Sioux City centerfielder Brandon Newton broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a two-out, bases-loaded single off Pheasants starter Andrew Liebel (0-1). A big blow came in the fifth inning when Ryan Priddy smacked a three-run home run with two outs. The Pheasants would have been out of the inning save for a miscommunication between Pheasants second baseman Joe Anthonsen and first baseman Trevor Lawhorn that allowed a popup to fall untouched.

Priddy finished 4-for-4 with three home runs, two home runs and five RBI.

The Pheasants' comeback was led by Jonny Kaplan's 3-for-5 night. He was a triple shy of a cycle with three RBI, launching a solo home run in the sixth, doubling home Cory Morales in the seventh and singling in a run in the ninth.

Trailing 7-4 in the ninth, the Pheasants loaded in the bases with no outs and cashed in twice off closer Chris Bodishbaugh. Anthonsen reached as the potential winning run on an RBI fielder's choice to pull the Pheasants within one, but Cesar Nicolas grounded out to second for the final out.

"Hopefully we can use that as an offensive building block and move forward on that and play more solid baseball throughout the game," said Pheasants manager Steve Shirley.

Liebel struck out four batters in 4 2/3 innings but struggled with command and walked four.

"We just have to buckle down and take advantage of a two-out situation and get back in the dugout. We got to get better at understanding that we have to attack that batter and get in the dugout," Shirley said.

Richard Salazar (1-0) earned the victory with 6 2/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on six hits and fanning four.

Pheasants relievers Tom Heithoff and Dan Cooper were impressive in their Sioux Falls debut, combing for just one run and four hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

Game three of the four-game, home-and-away series is at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. The game will be broadcast on Sioux Falls Sports Radio 1230-AM and www.kwsn.com.

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