Texas-Sized Heartbreak As Canaries Are Swept In Amarillo

AMARILLO, TX -- Snakebitten may not be a strong enough word for the Sioux Falls Canaries' (26-51) season.  Their heartbreak continued in Amarillo Wednesday night with a 7-6 defeat in 10 innings against a Sox (25-49) team hat scored five runs in their last at-bats to walkoff with a four game series sweep after falling behind 6-2 in the top half of the inning.

Kyle Ruwe gave the Canaries the gutsy performance they needed with an injury-plagued and overworked bullpen.  "Rubber Arm" pitched into the 10th inning, allowing four runs on 10 hits while striking out 3 and walking two.  He threw 137 pitches, but left empty-handed as Alan DeRatt blew his ninth save of the season, surrendering the tying and winning runs. DeRatt dropped to 2-6 with the loss.

Amarillo starter Matt Larkins was equally impressive.  Larkins completed eight innings and held Sioux Falls to just two runs and struck out nine hitters without issuing a walk.  Like Ruwe, Larkins did not factor in the decision.  Ryan Rogers (1-0) picked up the win by recording the final two outs in the top of the 10th for the Sox.

The Canaries now travel north to Lincoln, Nebraska for the second half of their eight game road trip.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries