FARGO, ND -- The Sioux Falls Canaries split a doubleheader with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on Thursday, losing the opener 2-0 and winning the nightcap 9-8.

The Canaries (5-9) salvaged one game of the four-game series and finished a seven-game road trip 3-4.

In game one, Tim Alberts broke a scoreless tie in the sixth inning with a run-scoring double lined over left fielder J.P. Ramirez. He later scored on Todd Jennings’ sacrifice fly. Jake Laber (1-1) pitched six shutout innings, and Chase Johnson tossed a scoreless seventh inning for his second save.

Kyle Ruwe (2-1) suffered his first loss, but still pitched well. He gave up two runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Canaries mustered just two hits, and Nick Van Stratten saw a nine-game hitting streak snapped.

In game two, the Canaries never trailed. They jumped out to a 2-0 in the top of the first inning, but Fargo-Moorhead answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. The Birds never lost a lead after Ramirez ripped a two-run double down the right field line, his second of the game, for a 4-2 lead.

Ramirez and cleanup hitter Jared Clark did the heavy lifting, going a combined 5-for-7 with a home run and six RBI.

Fargo-Moorhead loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third, chasing Canaries starter Mitchell Clegg from the game. The RedHawks pushed across one run on a groundout, but reliever Kyle Vazquez (1-2) did not allow any further damage.

Vazquez pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits but earned his first win.

The Canaries bats exploded for five runs in the fourth inning, all with two outs. Clark blasted a three-run home run, and Tim Pahuta launched a two-run home run two batters later to build a 9-3 lead.

The RedHawks assembled a four-run rally in the sixth inning, highlighted by Zach Penprase's two-run triple. In the seventh, a passed ball brought a run home, and the RedHawks brought the winning run to the plate with one out, but Alan DeRatt struck out Penprase and pinch-hitter Buddy Sosnoskie to end the game. DeRatt notched his third save in as many attempts.

RedHawks starter Paul Burnside (0-3) took the loss, giving up nine runs, seven earned, in four innings..

The Canaries next begin a seven-game homestand starting with a three-game series with Wichita Wingnuts. Game one is at 7:05 p.m. on Friday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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