News
Pheasants End RedHawks Streak 5-3![]() Inheriting a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning, four Pheasants relievers combined to shut out Fargo-Moorhead to salvage the finale of the three-game series in front of 2,179 fans at Sioux Falls Stadium. Lefty Jack Van Leur entered in the sixth in relief of starter Mitchell Clegg (5-3) with two runners on, and induced Buddy Sosnoskie to fly out and end the inning. Dan Cooper pitched a scoreless seventh, helped by catcher Al Quintana throwing out a base stealer from his knees and two sparkling plays from the infield. Kyle Mertins tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Cody Evans followed up by striking out the side in order in the ninth. “With Fargo playing so well and our guys playing so well all day, there was definitely extra energy.” said Evans, whose fastball touched 97-mph in the ninth inning. Evans also said he drew extra inspiration from his colleagues in the bullpen. “Baseball is all about confidence....When you see a guy go ahead of you and do well, it gives you confidence.” The Pheasants bullpen has allowed just one run in the last seven games (21 innings pitched). Their collective season ERA is just 3.34. Cooper ran a scoreless streak to 15 innings over 11 appearances, and Kyle Mertins lowered his season ERA to a miniscule 1.15. “Both [Dan Cooper and Kyle Mertins] will attack the strike zone and make solid pitches,” said Pheasants manager Steve Shirley. “Mertins throws hard and attacks the zone with a really good slider, and Cooper does the same thing with a sinker-slider. Most of the time when they attack the strike zone, we get really good results.” Jared Bolden broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a bunt single that scored Nick Judkins and opened the door to a four-run rally. Cesar Nicolas launched a two-run, sun-aided double, and Cory Morales drove in a run with a two-out single. The RedHawks (35-22) rallied for three runs in the sixth, capped by Zach Penprase’s two-run, two-out single, but Van Leur came in to retire the final batter. “We needed this win badly. It didn’t matter who the opponent was,” said Shirley on halting the RedHawks’ league best win streak one game shy of tying a league mark while the Pheasants (28-29) deal with numerous injuries. “These guys are working extremely hard. We needed a victory. For the effort they are putting in on a daily basis and for what we are going through right now, pulling a victory out was very exciting.” Cesar Nicolas was 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Jared Bolden had a pair of bunt singles. |
![]()
Browse by Month »
November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 December 2008 November 2008 September 2008 |