Sioux Falls Canaries Get First Win of the Season

The Sioux Falls Canaries finally had everything come together Sunday afternoon.

Kyle Ruwe quelled the Sioux City Explorers offense, Steve Domecus and Cory Morales each homered, and the Birds defense produced three double plays in a 3-1 win on Sunday afternoon at Sioux Falls Stadium. The victory was the first of the year for the Canaries (1-3), who salvaged the finale of the four-game, season-opening series.

Ruwe (1-0) set the tone for the Birds, scattering one run and six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

“I felt like all my pitches were working well today.  I started out low, and I stayed down in the zone the whole time,” the veteran right-hander told the Canaries broadcast team after the game on Sioux Falls Sports Radio 1230-AM and 98.1-FM. “It felt  really good to be out here.”

The Birds’ defense helped Ruwe with three double plays, including two outfield twin killings. Right fielder Nate Baumann doubled up Anthony Kaskadden at first base in the fifth inning, and center fielder Nick Van Stratten nailed Eliezer Mesa trying to score on a sacrifice fly at the plate in the sixth.

“I don’t strike many people out, so I need my defense to help me out every time I’m out here,” said Ruwe, who induced 10 ground ball outs along with three strikeouts.

Steve Domecus broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a clutch two-out, two-run home run to left field – his first of the year – to  give Sioux Falls (1-3) their first lead of the season, 2-0.  Cory Morales added a solo dinger, also his first, in the bottom of the sixth to make it 3-0.

Sioux City (3-1) mounted their only offensive threat in the eighth when they scored a run and loaded the bases with one out.  But Canaries reliever Kirk Clark induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Palmer Karr to end the inning without any further damage. Alan DeRatt pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save.

Canaries relievers were very effective in the series, allowing just two runs across 18 2/3 innings pitched.  Every reliever appeared at least once, and all but one have yet to allow a run.

Dan Jurik (0-1) took the loss for the Explorers, allowing three runs, three hits and four walks over six innings.

Leadoff hitter Nick Van Stratten went 2-for-4 with two singles and two stolen bases, while Domecus led the Birds with two RBI.  Cory Morales reached base twice and added an RBI.

Sam Judah reached base three times for Sioux City, and Peter Barrows had the only Explorers RBI on a 1-for-4 day.

After an off day on Monday, the Canaries welcome the St. Paul Saints to town at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21 at the Birdcage.  It’s a Give Back Tuesday. All fans who but a ticket and donate a canned good to Feeding South Dakota receive a second ticket for free.

Courtesy: Scott S. Beatty, Broadcaster / Media Relations, Sioux Falls Canaries