Pheasants, Rapoza Take Second Straight Over Wichita
Published on June 8, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
SIOUX FALLS- On a beautiful night at Sioux Falls Stadium, the Sioux Falls Pheasants played beautiful baseball.
Pheasants starter Brandon Rapoza (1-3) collected his first professional win as a starter in style, pitching a complete game to lead the Pheasants past the Wichita Wingnuts, 7-3. Their second straight victory over the Central Division leaders clinches the three-game series.
In a game that took just two hours and eight minutes, Sioux Falls turned in their most complete performance of the year. Behind Rapoza's gem, the defense delivered by turning four double plays in the first five innings, while six different Pheasants had an RBI in the game.
"It was nice just get [that first win]," said Rapoza who gave up three runs and scattering 11 hits. "I couldn't have done it without the guys behind me. They saved me out there."
Despite giving up three hits, Rapoza faced the minimum through the first three innings behind three double plays.
"[Rapoza] changed speeds on them and moved the ball around," said manager Steve Shirley. "He was able keep their hitters off-balanced. He just pitched tonight."
The Pheasants scored first for the third consecutive game when Trevor Lawhorn launched his first home run of the season to lead off the second inning. Sioux Falls added two more on hits from Henry Contreras and Kevin Carby. The damage could've been worse if not for a tremendous diving stop by second baseman Thomas Fitzgerald on a ground ball from Joe Anthonsen.
Back-to-back hits by Wichita's Josh Horn and Ryan Patterson to begin the fourth put runners at second and third with nobody out. But Rapoza relinquished just one run while retiring the next three batters to get out of the inning.
The Pheasants wasted little time in answering as Gus Milner led off the bottom half with a solo blast to dead center. Sioux Falls took advantage of two Wichita errors to plate two more without recording a hit, extending the lead to 6-1.
"It was good to get back-to-back wins against a good team," said Milner, who had two extra-base hits on the night. "Rapoza pitched a heck of a game tonight."
An RBI single by Juan Richardson in the sixth cut the Pheasants lead to four. Richardson drove in two runs while Patterson added three hits in the game.
With two outs in the seventh, Brandon Sing crushed his 12th home run of the season to increase the Pheasants lead to 7-2.
"I'm hoping that this is us coming together offensively," Shirley said.
Wingnuts starter Ryan Hinson (3-2) took the loss.
The Pheasants improved to 11-14 on the year.
The Pheasants look to sweep the series as they take on Wichita at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, at Sioux Falls Stadium. It is Thirsty Thursday. Domestic drafts are just $2 all night long.
American Association Stories from June 8, 2011
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- Pair of Homers Sink Fish - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Two Streaks Snapped as 13-Game Roadtrip Comes to An End with 9-5 Loss - St. Paul Saints
- Pheasants, Rapoza Take Second Straight Over Wichita - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Guerrero Makes It Five Straight with Homer in Eleventh - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Wingnuts Downed by Pheasants - Wichita Wingnuts
- "Tejano Superfest" this Saturday - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- On Your Mark...Get Set...5K with the Saints - St. Paul Saints
- AirHogs Get Out-Hit by Eight But Win by Four - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- American Association Early Game Recap - AA
- Pheasants Release Pitcher Stone - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Captains Drop Second Straight to St. Paul 6-2 - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Maddox, RailCats Walk off with 4-3 Win in Ten - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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