By Scott Lemon

David Bergin’s bases-clearing double in the bottom of the ninth spurred the Sioux Falls Canaries on to a walk-off victory over the Laredo Lemurs 9-8 on Monday night.

The Canaries and Lemurs were in a ping-pong match of sorts, with several lead changes and ties taking place throughout the night. Mike Falsetti got the Birds on the board first in the second with a two-out, two-run single to center, but was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double. However, Cameron Monger and Ozney Guillen crossed home plate on the play to make it a 2-0 ballgame.

The Lemurs tied the game up in the third courtesy of a Leandro Castro homer that towered over the left field wall to tie the game at two.

Laredo took their first lead of the day in the fourth, as Ty Morrison drove in J.D. Pulfer from second to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

The Canaries tied the game again in the fifth. Ethan Chapman hit a weak grounder to first, but the ball fell out of the first baseman’s glove on his way to the bag, allowing Chapman to reach safely and Monger to score from third.

The Lemurs again took the lead in the sixth, as Rondon hit a RBI triple to left, then came in to score himself on a wild pitch, pushing the Laredo lead to 5-3.

David Bergin played hero twice for the Canaries on Monday, his first coming in the bottom of the fifth. After Darwin Perez led off with a walk, Bergin hit a moon-shot to left off Laredo reliever Brandan Alfson to tie the game at five.

The Canaries brought in the go-ahead run in the eighth, when Monger was plunked with the bases loaded, forcing home Perez from third, and the Birds took the lead back at 6-5.

The bullpen again looked shaky on Monday. Billy Waltrip came in for his second save attempt of the year and proceeded to give up three runs in the top of the ninth, giving the lead back to Laredo at 8-6.

One thing the Birds have done well as of late: battling late. Back-to-back walks led off the inning for Sioux Falls. Blake Schmit then reached on an error by the pitcher to load the bases. Perez struck out swinging to bring up Bergin, who played hero once again for the Birds. He hit a line-drive double into the gap in left, clearing the bases, and giving the Birds the 9-8 walk-off victory.

The Canaries play game two against Laredo on Tuesday night, the second of five home games this week. All games this week have first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Contact the Canaries ticket office for information regarding single game or season ticket options by calling 605-336-6060 or visit the website at www.sfcanaries.com for more information.

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