Sioux Falls Canaries End Winnipeg’s Win Streak with 10-2 Victory

By: Scott Lemon

The Winnipeg Goldeyes’ ten-game winning streak was broken as the Sioux Falls Canaries topped the Fish 10-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

Joe Bircher pitched another good game on Wednesday, throwing seven excellent innings, allowing only two runs on five hits, striking out nine, and walking just one. His 22-inning streak of not allowing an earned run was snapped in the second inning when he gave up a solo homer to Josh Romanski.

The Birds again struck first, with their lead coming courtesy of savvy base running by Ethan Chapman. Chapman reached on an error by the first baseman. He then stole second to get himself into scoring position. Blake Schmit was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. The Canaries tried a double steal, forcing a bad throw to third by the catcher, and Chapman scooted home as the throw got into left field, giving the Canaries an early 1-0 lead.

The Goldeyes tied the game in the second with a solo homer from Josh Romanski, but that was the only time the game would be tied the remainder of the afternoon.

The Canaries steadily built their lead throughout the day, starting in the bottom of the second. B.J. Guinn reached on a one-out walk. Michael Pair then allowed Guinn to stroll home as Pair plastered an offering over the wall in right, his sixth homer of the season, as the Birds regained the lead at 3-1.

Winnipeg cut the lead to one in the fourth. The Goldeyes loaded the bases courtesy of two singles and a walk. David Rohm knocked in Adam Heisler on a fielder’s choice to make it a 3-2 ballgame. However, Bircher was able to escape the jam with limited damage.

The Canaries responded in a big way in the bottom of the fourth. J.C. Linares singled to lead off the frame, then advanced to second on a Cameron Monger single. Guinn laid down a bunt to move both runners over, but a throwing error allowed him to reach and Linares to score from second, making it a 4-2 game. Darwin Perez knocked in Guinn and Monger with a RBI single to right, pushing the lead to 6-2.

The Canaries tacked on two more in the fifth, as Guinn and Aaron Owen picked up one RBI each, and added another in the sixth on a Linares RBI double to push the lead to 9-2.

Just for good measure, David Bergin demolished a 0-1 pitch from Winnipeg reliever Robert Tasin into the parking lot beyond the left field wall to make it a 10-2 game. James Jones and Lance Fairchild came out of the Canaries’ bullpen to close the door on the Goldeyes and insure the victory.

The Canaries now hit the road for eight days, making stops in St. Paul (Thursday-Sunday) and Gary, Ind. (Monday-Thursday), before returning to Sioux Falls next Friday as they welcome the Lincoln Saltdogs to The Birdcage for the first time this season. 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.