AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Pheasants Stumble in Series Finale

Published on August 14, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


SIOUX FALLS- In the third tight game of the series, the Sioux Falls Pheasants could not hold onto an early lead in a 5-3 loss to the Sioux City Explorers on Sunday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

An RBI-bunt single by Derek Schermerhorn in the sixth inning provided the difference in the rubber game of the three-game series.

Explorers' starter David Trahan (3-1) was effectively wild in eight innings of work, giving up three runs on six hits with six walks and eight strikeouts. Trahan silenced the Pheasants offense late, giving up just two hits in his final five innings, despite throwing 131 pitches in the game.

The Pheasants put the tying run on second with two outs in the ninth, but reliever Eddie Delacruz induced Reggie Abercrombie to ground out. He collected his ninth save of the year.

"We just couldn't muster up runs to get the win," Abercrombie, who finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and three stolen bases. "I had an opportunity at the end, I just didn't come through today."

Pheasants starter Barry Fowler (5-5) took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. He exited after the sixth having thrown just 65 pitches.

The Pheasants grabbed an early lead in the first when Abercrombie singled to score Joe Anthonsen. Mark Shorey followed with a sacrifice fly to give Sioux Falls a 2-0 advantage. The Birds pushed their lead to three runs on an RBI single by Hunter Jobes in third.

Fowler needed only 35 pitches to see the minimum through four innings. The right-hander received plenty of help behind him as the Pheasants turned two double plays and made several dazzling defensive stops.

"There were aspects of the game the we did well enough to win," said manager Steve Shirley. "But there were more aspects that I thought we didn't give enough effort to win today. Our performance was very sluggish, and I didn't see that kind of effort that you need to win."

Sioux City roared back in the fifth. Brett Flowers' two-out double brought home TJ Bohn for the Explorers' first run. Ryan Priddy followed with a two-run home run, and the game was suddenly tied at 3-3.

The Explorers played small ball in the sixth. Dustin Jones lead off with a bunt single and Wally Backman's base hit put runners at the corners with nobody out. They took the lead for good when Schermerhorn laid down a perfect bunt on a squeeze play to score Jones.

Sioux City added an insurance run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Flowers.

"We looked like a tired team today," Shirley said. "With this off day tomorrow, I'm hoping that we can regenerate our batteries a little bit and get some of our guys healthy."

The Pheasants fell to 40-46 with the loss.

"Right now we're playing like we have nothing to lose," said Abercrombie, who stole seven bags in the series. "We just want to go out on a good note."

Following the off day Monday, the Pheasants resume play when they open up a three-game series against the Lincoln Saltdogs, starting at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16. The game will be broadcast live on Sioux Falls Sports Radio 1230-AM KWSN and online at kwsn.com.

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