Pheasants Win Second-Half Division Title
Published on August 29, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Sioux Falls Pheasants clinched the second-half North Division title on Sunday night, beating the St. Paul Saints 9-7 in the final game of the regular season.
The victory eliminated the Wichita Wingnuts from the playoff race and gave the Lincoln Saltdogs a playoff berth as the North Division wild card team. Sioux Falls and Lincoln will square off in a best-of-five series beginning Tuesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium. The winner advances to the championship round, also a best-of-five format.
Sioux Falls is just the third team in league history to sweep both halves of the season. The Pheasants finished one game ahead of Wichita with a 31-17 record. Their 63-33 overall record is the best ever in franchise history and by far the best in the American Association this season.
The Pheasants never trailed in the ball game, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a run-scoring triple from Reggie Abercrombie followed up by a single from Beau Torbert. Abercrombie scored for the 89th time this year, breaking a league and franchise record for runs scored in a season set by Grant Richardson in 2008.
Eddy Rodriguez led Pheasants offense, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Abercrombie, Tim Hutting, Brandon Sing and Gus Milner also had multi-hit performances. The Pheasants banged out 15 hits in total.
Ryan Shaver (8-3) snapped a three-game losing skid and earned the victory. The Pheasants starter limited the Saints to two runs and three hits in five innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.
The Pheasants built a 9-2 lead through the fifth inning, but the Saints climbed back into the game. A two-run double from Josh Burrus in the eighth brought the Saints within two runs. But Aaron Cotter shut the door on the Saints, closing out the ninth for his league-leading 25th save. He allowed the tying run to the plate with one out but induced two pop ups to end the game.
Ryan Morse (5-6) took the loss, yielding six runs and nine hits in four innings.
Games 1 & 2 of the division series are at Sioux Falls Stadium on August 31 and September 1. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. Individual and group ticket information is available by calling (605) 333-0179. Fans can also visit the Pheasants at www.sfpheasants.com.
American Association Stories from August 29, 2010
- Pheasants Win Second-Half Division Title - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Red-Hot Captains End Regular Season with Another Win - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Wingnuts Win Season Finale, But Miss Playoffs by One - Wichita Wingnuts
- Diablos Drop Season Finale - El Paso Diablos
- Saints 2010 Season Comes to An End with 9-7 Loss to Pheasants - St. Paul Saints
- Lincoln Saltdogs Clinch Playoff Berth - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saltdogs Claim Potential Wild Card Berth - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Marquez gets Captains last laugh for 10th straight win - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Wingnuts Stay Alive With One to Go - Wichita Wingnuts
- Wichita Still Alive After Blasting El Paso - El Paso Diablos
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