Pheasants Squelch Winnipeg to Split Series

Published on July 17, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release

WINNIPEG, Manitoba. - The Sioux Falls Pheasants displayed impressive resiliency and solid all-around play in a 4-1 defeat of the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg. The Pheasants earned a four-game series split with the first-place division rival.

The Pheasants pitching staff rebounded after two straight games of double-digit scoring from the Goldeyes. Ben Moore (9-2) was outstanding despite still recovering from a batted ball that struck his shoulder in the last at-bat of his previous outing. The right-hander carved up the Goldeyes for eight strikeouts and gave up their only run in five innings. He raised his league-leading strikeout total to 80 and lowered his ERA to 2.36.

Henry Contreras' two-run home run in the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie with two outs. The blast off Winnipeg starter Chris Salamida (7-2) was his fifth against left-handed pitchers out of six for the season.

Reggie Abercrombie cushioned the Pheasants' lead to 4-1 with a leadoff solo home run in the sixth, his ninth of the year. Abercrombie was 2-for-4 and scored the Pheasants' first run in the first inning by doubling with two outs, stealing third and scoring on an errant throw. Winnipeg responded with Brian Myrow's RBI single in the bottom half of the first to even the game.

Moore exited after the fifth, and the bullpen followed up with four shutout innings. Chris Salberg threw two innings and induced Brian Joynt into an inning-double play in the seventh with two runners on. Ryan Grant allowed a double but nothing else in the eighth, and Aaron Cotter notched his ninth save with a 1-2-3 final inning.

Despite the low-scoring contest, the two squads combined for 72 runs and 102 hits in the series. It was the second consecutive four-game road series the Pheasants have split with a first-place team. They did the same with Gary SouthShore at the start of month.

The Pheasants continue a crucial stretch of division games with a three-game series against the St. Paul Saints, beginning at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, July 18, at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Saints currently hold the league's wild card playoff spot. Gates open at 6 p.m.

American Association Stories from July 17, 2011

• American Association Game Recaps - AA
• Not Good for the Saints in 6-4 10 Inning Loss to X's - St. Paul Saints
• Captains Come Back from Four Runs Down But Ninth-Inning Single Gives Gary 5-4 Win - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
• Ninth Inning Run Hands RailCats Sweep - Gary SouthShore Railcats
• Birthday Boy Jennings Gives AirHogs Series Win - Grand Prairie AirHogs
• Wingnuts Drop Rubber Game in Grand Prairie - Wichita Wingnuts
• Lincoln Flops Early, Flexes Muscles Later in Win - Lincoln Saltdogs
• American Association Game Recaps - AA
• Pheasants Squelch Winnipeg to Split Series - Sioux Falls Canaries
• Former Mate Stymies Fish - Winnipeg Goldeyes
• T-Bones Use Home Runs to Beat The RedHawks 9-5 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
• Ka'aihue Homers Twice, T-Bones Salvage Split - Kansas City Monarchs
• RedHawks Sign Krause & Light, Place Jennings on DL - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
• X's Drop 7-3 Decision to St. Paul - Sioux City Explorers

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