Canaries Break Out Of Slump With 5-0 Victory In Lincoln

LINCOLN, NE -- After being shutout over the previous 17 innings, the Sioux Falls Canaries offense came into Saturday night's game determined to get a win.

The Canaries did just that, shutting out the Lincoln Saltdogs 5-0.

With the offense struggling, the Birds' needed a strong outing from starting pitcher Ben Moore, who looked to snap the Canaries seven-game losing streak. Moore was at his best, allowing just two hits over six shutout innings. Moore also recorded five strikeouts in the victory, and is now tied for the lead in the American Association with 90 strikeouts on the year.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, each going scoreless in the first two innings. The Birds' extending their offensive drought to 19 1/3 innings, before finally coming up with a run in the top of the third.

Stephen Branca, who lead off the inning with a walk, scored the first run of the night on a Steve Tinoco RBI single into center.  With the base hit, Tinoco extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying Brandon Jones for the longest Canaries hitting streak this season.

Chris Duffy would make it a 2-0 lead after crushing an opposite-field homerun (12) over the leftfield wall to lead off the top of the 4th.

Lincoln's Ian Gac extended his hitting streak to 20 games after collecting the first of two hits in the bottom of the fourth inning off of Moore, but the Saldogs offense was never able to get things rolling, going scoreless in the inning, and leaving six men on base throughout the night.

John Brebbia tossed two shutout innings for Sioux Falls in the seventh and eighth innings.

Alen DeRatt wrapped things up with a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure the win.

The Canaries will look to even up the series Sunday night with Matt Wickswat taking the mound in the series finale.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries