AIRHOGS BLAST CANARIES, 11-3

Sioux Falls, SD – The Sioux Falls Canaries (9-9) gave up four home runs in an 11-3 loss to the Grand Prairie AirHogs (14-4) on Sunday afternoon at the Birdcage.

The Canaries took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Grant Richardson hit his ninth home run of the season to give the Canaries a 1-0 lead.

Grand Prairie tied the game in the top of the second inning. Derek Nicholson went opposite field with his seventh home run this season to tie the game, 1-1.

The AirHogs went in front in the top of the third inning. Aaron Garza tripled and scored on a single by Brandon Carter. The lead was widened later in the inning on a two-run home run by Billy Munoz. Munoz fourth home run of the season put the Grand Prairie in front by three, 4-1.

Grand Prairie added more distance with another home run in the fourth inning. J.B. Tucker and Mike Conroy singled to set-up Garza for a three-run homer. Garza’s fourth homer of 2008 put the AirHogs up 7-1.

The Birds got one back in the bottom of the fourth. Ben Van Iderstine doubled to right field and scored on a single by Paul Smyth to get the Canaries within five, 7-2.

The teams traded runs in the fifth inning. The AirHogs loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks, and Mike Conroy drew a bases loaded walk to force in Drew Holder for an 8-2 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Alex Bardeguez hit his second home run of the season to put the Canaries back within five runs, 8-3.

The AirHogs got two more runs thanks to a couple of Canaries defensive miscues in the top of the sixth inning. Drew Holder was hit by a pitch. Holder stole second and got third on an errant throw by Canaries Catcher Paul Smyth. After Billy Munoz walked, Holder scored on a wild pitch. Munoz advanced to second on the wild pitch, and scored from second on an error by Canaries First Baseman Patrick Reilly. The Canaries errors put them in a seven-run hole, 10-3.

Grand Prairie added one final run in the eighth inning. Brandon Carter’s fifth home run of the season capped off an 11-3 win for the AirHogs.

Nat Harris (5-1) picked up the win for the AirHogs. Ryan Ford (9-4) suffered the loss as his seven-start winning streak came to an end.
*Courtesy: Sioux Falls Canaries