CANARIES FINISH REGULAR SEASON WITH 9-6 WIN

Sioux Falls, SD – The Sioux Falls Canaries (29-19) won their 60th game of the season in a come from behind 9-6 victory over the Shreveport Sports (9-37).

The Sports took the lead in the top of the first inning. Michael Lewis tripled and scored on a single by Wade Robinson. Robinson later scored in the inning on a single by Lester Contreras, and the Sports led 2-0 after the first half-inning of play.

The Canaries tied the game in the second inning. Ben Van Iderstine walked and scored on a triple by Patrick Reilly. The triple was Reilly’s ninth of the season, tying a Canaries record for triples in a season. Tyrone Pendergrass tripled nine times in 2003. Reilly later scored on a single by Tim Hutting. After two innings, the game was tied, 2-2.

Shreveport came right back with three runs in the third to take a 5-2 lead. The Sports got ahead when Terrance McClain hit a two-run homer, his sixth of the season, and Richard Quihuis-Bell followed with a solo shot, his third of the season.

The Sports added one more in the fifth Tommy Bryant walked and later scored on a wild pitch. At the midpoint of the game, the Canaries trailed, 6-2.

The Birds mounted their comeback in the sixth inning. The Canaries loaded the bases when Reilly was hit by a pitch, Paul Smyth singled and Andrew Barbaro walked. J.D. Reininger hit a grand slam, his 11th home run of the season, and the Canaries tied the game, 6-6. The Canaries were not done in the inning, as Josh Patton doubled and Beau Torbert singled to score him for a 7-6 lead. The Canaries got two more runs on their way to a 9-6 win.

Ryan Ford (13-6) pitched one inning of relief and got the win to set a new Canaries record for victories in a single season. Ford surpasses the 12-win seasons of Scott Martin (2001) and Pat Mahomes (2007) in setting the new record. Justin Phillips (4-12) suffered the loss. Kris Regas retired the side in order, with two strikeouts, to save his 30th game of the season. The save for Regas set a new short-season Independent Baseball record, topping the 29 save season that Chris Chavez had for the St. Paul Saints in 2004.

The Canaries now head to the American Association North Division Playoff Series against the Sioux City Explorers. The best-of-five series begins at the Birdcage on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. The first 1,500 fans will receive playoff rally towels courtesy of First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard.
*Courtesy: Sioux Falls Canaries