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AA Sioux Falls Canaries

Scurry, Pheasants Blank El Paso

June 28, 2012 - American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release


SIOUX FALLS -- The Sioux Falls Pheasants jumped out to an early lead and rode starter Rod Scurry's gem to an 11-0 win over the El Paso Diablos Thursday afternoon at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Cesar Nicolas started the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single that plated Jonny Kaplan. Trevor Lawhorn brought Nicolas home two batters later with a bloop single for an early 2-0 lead.

The lead stretched to 5-0 in the second inning as the Pheasants (20-18) tacked on three runs, two unearned. Joe Anthonsen doubled in Al Quintana who reached on an error, Kaplan singled in Anthonsen, who knocked the ball out of the catcher's glove on a play at the plate, and Jared Bolden drove in Kaplan with a groundout.

Scurry (3-1) pitched eight shutout innings, allowing eight hits, all singles, while striking out five and walking one.

"He was absolutely nasty," said Quintana, Scurry's battery mate. "He has starter stuff, and I think that was pretty evident the way he was throwing today. That sinker-and-cutter combination was some of the better stuff I've seen."

Scurry earned his first win as a starter and is undefeated in three starts after beginning the season in the bullpen. He has been nearly untouchable in June. Across 29 1/3 innings pitched this month, Scurry is 2-0 and has yielded just three earned runs (0.92 ERA). He lowered his overall ERA to 3.25.

The Pheasants' infield backed Scurry by turning three double plays. They lead the American Association with 55 twin-killings.

"When you have a defense as good as ours and a catcher like Al [Quintana], you can trust everybody," said Scurry. "I just have to throw the pitches down there in the strike zone and get the ground ball."

The Pheasants piled on more runs throughout the game. Mark Shorey complimented his 4-for-5 day with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Bolden slapped a run-scoring double in the sixth, his second RBI of the day for a 7-0 lead.

Back-to-back two-run doubles by Nicolas and Shorey finished off the scoring in the eighth inning in the Pheasants 11-0 victory.

Five Pheasants had multi-hit performances, led by Nicolas who went 3-for-5 with three RBI. He extending his hitting streak to 19 games. Shorey also finished with three RBI.

After dropping the first two games of the series to El Paso (10-28), the Pheasants salvaged the finale and pulled to 3 ½ games behind first place Winnipeg in the North Division.

"Today we stayed focused for nine innings," Quintana said. "That's why we got the "˜W' today. In the previous two games, it was evident that we weren't focused through all nine innings, and it came to bite us."

Edgar Garcia (0-2) took the loss for the Diablos. He lasted five innings, but gave up six runs, four earned, on 10 hits in the start.

The Pheasants will start a four-game series with Gary SouthShore at 7:05 p.m. on Friday June 29 at Sioux Falls Stadium. "Kids FREE in June" continues. Two tickets for children 12-and-under are free with every regular-priced adult ticket purchased. Friday Night Fireworks follows the game, sponsored by Sanford Health and All-Star Fireworks.

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