A Sioux Falls' three-run eighth inning rally was the difference in the game as the Canaries edged the Cats 6-5 on Tuesday night in Sioux Falls.
The Canaries took the lead in the second inning as they got back-to-back singles to start the inning. Second baseman Alex Bardeguez singled up the middle, scoring Patrick Reilly. The ball slipped past center fielder Brian Fryer, allowing a second run to score and giving Sioux Falls a 2-0 lead.
The Cats got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning as Pat O'Sullivan launched his third home run of the season to right, a solo shot to make it 2-1 Canaries.
Sioux Falls answered with a solo home run from Tim Hutting in the fifth inning to extend it's lead to 3-1.
In the seventh inning with one out, John Allen singled before Kelley Gulledge hit his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to knot the game 3-3. Fort Worth took it's first lead of the game in the eighth as Fryer doubled to start the inning. The next batter, Isa Garcia singled to center, scoring Fryer as the Cats took a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Canaries got a leadoff walk from Beau Torbert against Cats' reliever Alex Morales. After Torbert advanced to second on a sacrifice but, Patrick Reilly brought him home with a double to tie the game 4-4.
One out later, Morales allowed back-to-back walks to load the bases before Dustin Cameron came in the game and hit Tim Hutting with his first pitch to force in a run. A wild pitch allowed the third run of the inning to cross the plate as Sioux Falls took a 6-4 lead.
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The Cats got a solo home run in the ninth from Michael Bell, his league-leading fifth of the season, but left the tying run at second base as Fryer lined to right to end the game.
Matt Reilly (1-0) earned the win after going a scoreless inning in relief for Sioux Falls. Morales (0-1) suffers the loss after permitting three runs in the eighth. Kirs Regas notched his third save by closing out the game in the ninth.
The series concludes on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Dan Grybash (2-0) starts for Fort Worth.
