SIOUX FALLS, SD -- What eluded a Sioux Falls Canaries pitcher for four years has now happened twice.

For the second time in three days, a Canaries hurler went the distance and shut out an opponent. This time, Ben Moore threw a three-hit, complete-game shutout to beat the Sioux City Explorers 8-0 on Thursday night at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Former big leaguer Pat Mahomes was the last to throw a shutout in 2009 until Kyle Ruwe did so on Tuesday night against Lincoln. But Moore (6-3) bested his fellow veteran’s five-hit shutout by allowing just four base runners on three base hits and one walk. He struck out seven batters while seeing three over the minimum. Moore’s performance was made more impressive by the fact that he was battling a cold.

Moore did not allow a base hit until the fifth inning, and he needed just 95 pitches to in a speedy two-hour-and-15-minute affair.

Meanwhile, the Canaries’ bats provided plenty of run support. Tim Pahuta cracked a two-out single in the first inning to score Nick Van Stratten.

An unearned run scored in the second, and Van Stratten had an RBI hit in the fourth.

After another run in the fifth, the Birds unloaded for four runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back, two-run doubles by Jared Clark and Pahuta.

Pahuta finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI.  For the seventh straight game, Van Stratten had multiple hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. He bolstered his season average to .365.  Jared Clark was 2-for-2 with three walks and two RBI.

Sioux City starter Ryan Lucero (0-1) took the loss in his first professional start. He yielded four runs, three earned, and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

The Canaries (21-32) continued their hot play, improving to 7-3 in July and winning their eighth of the last 11 contests.  They have won the first two games of the four-game series against Sioux City (23-28).

The Canaries continue the four-game series against the X's at 7:05 p.m. on Friday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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