KANSAS CITY, KS -- Tim Pahuta picked up in July right where he left off in June.

Fresh off being named the American Association Batter of the Month for June, the slugger belted a three-run home run in the Sioux Falls Canaries first July game to lead the Birds to a 7-1 victory over the Kansas City T-Bones on Tuesday night.

Pahuta's blast over the right field wall at Community America Ballpark was his 14th of the year in his third straight game with a home run. He finished 2-for-5 with four RBI, knocking in another run in the ninth inning of the four-game series opener.

Mitchell Clegg (2-2) turned in a quality start to earn the win for the Canaries (15-29). He tossed six innings, yielding just one run, walking one and fanning one.  Although he never had a 1-2-3 inning, he scattered seven hits and never allowed a leadoff man to reach.

The Canaries never trailed after J.P. Ramirez launched a solo shot in the first inning, his third of the year, for an early 1-0 lead. Kansas City tied the game on Matt Padgett's two-out single in the third inning, but Sioux Falls unloaded for four runs in the fourth inning, taking the lead on Jared Clark's base hit before Pahuta's blast opened a 5-1 lead.

Ramirez and Jake Taylor both had big nights at the plate. Ramirez finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Taylor had a four-hit night.

The Birds added single runs in the seventh and ninth innings while relievers Jordan Whatcott and Jack Van Leur combined to shut out Kansas City in the final three innings.

Kansas City starter Eric Gonzalez (1-4) took the loss, allowing six runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five.

The Canaries continue the four-game road series with the T-Bones at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday in Kansas City.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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