AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Pheasants win second straight over Gary

Published on June 25, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


SIOUX FALLS- For the second straight night, the Sioux Falls Pheasants did not give up with their backs against the wall. The Pheasants again used clutch hitting for their second straight defeat of the Gary SouthShore RailCats.

Hunter Jobes blasted his first home run of the season and Barry Fowler, 35, pitched more like a veteran than a rookie in the Pheasants' 6-2 win over the RailCats Saturday in front of the largest crowd of the year at Sioux Falls Stadium.

The Pheasants scored five of their six runs with two outs.

Jobes, playing for the injured Reggie Abercrombie, has been a spark plug in both games this series. On Friday, the utility man legged out a base hit to load the bases in the Pheasants four-run seventh. His three-run homer off of RailCats starter Nolan Nicholson in the fourth inning on Saturday proved to be the turning point for the Pheasants, giving them a 4-2 lead.

"I was looking for a good pitch to hit and try and sneak a run across," said Jobes, who went 2-for-3 and reached base three times in the game. "[Nicholson] left a pitch up that I could drive and I put a good swing on it."

Fowler (2-1) never panicked in his second start with the team. The 35-year-old rookie allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits in six innings that saw Gary put several runners on, only to be denied by the Pheasants starter.

"Barry pitched very well for us," said manager Steve Shirley. "He likes to change speeds, get a lot of movement on his pitches and try to get a lot of ground balls. He gave us an opportunity to win."

Ryan Grant, Sam Walls and Chris Salberg combined for three scoreless innings of relief. They allowed just one and retired the final nine batters they faced.

Sioux Falls fired the opening salvo on an RBI groundout by Gus Milner to score Joe Anthonsen in the first.

Gary SouthShore took the lead in the fourth. Toddric Johnson singled to drive in the first RailCats run, his fourth hit in the series. Later in the inning, Mike Rohde's RBI groundout brought home Cristian Guerrero to give Gary a 2-1 lead.

The Birds came right back in the bottom half. Mark Shorey and Brandon Sing reached to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Shorey was thrown out at third on a fielder's choice, then Nicholson struck out Henry Contreras for the second out. Jobes connected on a 1-0 pitch and drove it over the right field wall for the 4-2 lead.

The Pheasants extended their lead in the fifth. Trevor Lawhorn doubled with one out, and Mark Shorey replaced him with a double of his own to build the Pheasants lead to three runs. The double was Shorey's sixth extra-base hit in three games.

Sioux Falls took a 6-2 lead when Kevin Carby's eighth inning single drove in Brandon Sing. Carby was one of four Pheasants with two hits, and all nine Pheasants' starters reached base.

Nicholson (2-5) took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The Pheasants' second straight win over Gary improves their record to 18-24. Gary falls to 23-19 with the loss.

The Pheasants go for a sweep of the RailCats in the series finale at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, at Sioux Falls Stadium. It is Great Plains Zoo Day and Family Fun in the SUNday. Animals from the Great Plains Zoo will be on display for old and young alike to enjoy. Kids can also run the bases after the game and Pheasants players will sign postgame autographs. Gates open at 1 p.m.

Check out the Sioux Falls Canaries Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Association Stories from June 25, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central