WINNIPEG, Manitoba. – The Sioux Falls Canaries took a lead into the late innings against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Tuesday night, but they could not hold on in a 6-4 loss. They dropped the opener of a three-game series at Shaw Park before 6,147 fans.

Leading 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, a Canaries error opened the door for a two-run rally. Luis Alen scored on the miscue, and Ray Sadler followed with an RBI double to even the game. In the eighth, the Goldeyes (30-30) put the first two batters on base against Kirk Clark (0-3) via a walk and a hit. Both scored on Amos Ramon's bases-loaded, go-ahead double.

The eighth-inning rally capped five unanswered runs by the Goldeyes after the Canaries led 4-1 going into the bottom of the second inning. The Birds struck for three runs in the first inning against Matthew Rusch, last year's Pitcher of the Year, and added a tally in the second. Marcos Rodriguez, Tim Pahuta, Jake Taylor and Cory Morales each had an RBI.

A quality start by Mitchell Clegg, his fifth in his last six outings, went spoiled. He allowed two runs in seven innings on six hits and four strikeouts. Clark suffered his third loss in relief, while Brendan Lafferty (2-1) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the win.

The Canaries put the tying runs on in the ninth with one out against Goldeyes closer Patrick Keating, but Morales grounded into a game-ending double play, and Keating earned his 12th save.

Kevin Dultz was 2-for-2 with a walk and sacrifice hit, and Morales and Taylor each had a pair of hits.

The three-game series against Winnipeg continues at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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