SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Once again the Sioux Falls Canaries used stellar pitching to pave the way to victory as they defeated the visiting Sioux City Explorers 4-1 Friday night at The Birdcage.

John Brebbia, making his first career start in professional baseball after three season as a reliever in the Yankees organization, turned in five shutout innings while striking out eight and earning the win.  The righthander worked himself out of jams throughout the night, stranding two runners in each of the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings.

Chris Valencia got the Canaries on the board in the 1st inning, leading off with a triple and scoring on Carlos Mendez's sacrifice fly.

Shelby Ford hit a solo homerun in the 2nd that put the Canaries on top 2-0.

In the 5th, an RBI single off the bat of Brandon Jones extended the lead to 3-0 and later that inning when Chase Burch's hard grounder to short wasn't handled, Carlos Mendez came around to score and give the Canaries a 4-0 lead.

Erick Gonzalez pitched himself into trouble in the 6th, allowing a run and leaving the bases loaded after three walks.  Kirk Clark came in and quickly put out the fire, inducing a popup to the catcher and holding the damage to the one run.

Clark then threw a scoreless 7th and gave way to Kaohi Downing who put up a zero in the 8th.

Alan DeRatt earned his second save of the season by keeping the Explorers scoreless in the 9th.

The Canaries head south to Sioux City Saturday night for the third game of this four game series.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

 

Sioux Falls Canaries vs Sioux City Explorers, 05-16-2014
Sioux Falls Canaries
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Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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