Sioux City, IA – The Sioux Falls Canaries finished a three-game sweep of the Sioux City Explorers with a 3-1 win at Lewis

The Canaries took the lead with two runs in the fifth inning. Josh Patton led off the inning with a line-drive single into centerfield. Ben Van Iderstine followed with a bunt to move Patton over. The Explorers tried to get the lead runner on a throw to second, but Patton beat the throw to put two men on with nobody out. Patrick Reilly followed with a bunt to advance the runners. The Explorers again failed in an attempt to get the lead runner, and the Birds had the bases loaded with nobody out. Paul Smyth followed with a two-run single to right field, and the Canaries took a 2-0 lead.

Sioux City came back with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Walter Young and Chris Grossman drew back-to-back one-out walks to put two on base. After Juan Camacho grounded into a fielder’s choice, Juan Senreiso came to the plate with runners on the corners. Senreiso doubled to bring home Young and put the Explorers within a run, 2-1.

The Birds put the final nail in Sioux City’s coffin by coming right back with a run in the seventh. Smyth singled and raced all the way around to score on a double by Tim Hutting. Hutting’s seventh RBI of the series put the Canaries ahead by the 3-1 final.

Travis Kane (1-0) gave up just one run on five hits in 5.1 innings to pick up the series clinching win. Paige Dumont (0-1) was saddled with the loss giving just up three runs on six hits in seven innings while striking out eight. Kris Regas retired the side in order for his second save of the series to clinch it in the ninth.

The Sioux Falls Canaries move on to the American Association League Championship Series where they will face the winner of the South Division Playoff Series between the Grand Prairie AirHogs and Fort Worth Cats. The first game of the series will be down south on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. The American Association League Championship Series comes to Sioux Falls on Thursday, September 4. The Canaries will host Game Three of the series at 7:05 p.m., and following the game there will be a Post-Game Fireworks Show presented by First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard.

Matt Meola Sioux Falls Canaries