BIG NINTH INNING STUNS CANARIES IN GAME ONE
Sioux Falls, SD – The Sioux Falls Canaries took a one-run lead into the ninth inning Wednesday night but Kansas City erupted for seven runs in the frame to sink the Birds 12-6 in game one of the West Division Series.
Both teams scored a run without a hit in their half of the first inning. The Monarchs loaded the bases with nobody out and scored on a double play but a Thomas Dorminy strikeout got Sioux Falls out of the jam with no further damage done.
Mike Hart walked to lead off the bottom of the first and scored on an Anthony Hall sacrifice fly but Kansas City scored twice in the third inning and added two more in the seventh to build a 5-1 lead.
Three consecutive walks in the home half loaded the bases with nobody out and the Birds got a run back on a Trevor Achenbach RBI fielder‘s choice. Following a strikeout, Joe Vos walked to reload the bases before Hart blasted a go-ahead grand slam to left field.
The Canaries took a 6-5 lead into the top of the ninth but the Monarchs sent eleven batters to the plate and scored seven runs to take control. The Birds left two runners on base in a scoreless bottom half.
Josh Rehwaldt collected two hits while Dorminy fanned seven over six innings of work. The series now shifts to Kansas City where the Birds will need to win twice this weekend to avoid elimination. Game two is set for Friday at 6:35pm.
