fmredhawks.com

FARGO, N.D. – The Sioux Falls Canaries had the game-tying run on second with no outs in the ninth, but were unable to bring the runner home as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks won 8-7 – completing a three-game sweep Wednesday at Newman Outdoor Field in front of a crowd of 4,081.

Trailing 8-6 in the ninth, Sioux Falls (23-35) had their first three batters reach base on two walks and a throwing error. With no outs and the bases loaded, Danny Gutierrez came in for relief for the RedHawks. After a Cory Morales strikeout, Marcos Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly cutting the Fargo-Moorhead lead to 8-7. With runners on the corners and two outs, Gutierrez finished off his second save of the season by forcing Stephen King to line-out to shortstop Zach Penprase.

With the victory, the RedHawks have won five of their last six games and sit atop the North Division standings with a 35-23 record.

The Canaries outhit the RedHawks in the ballgame 13-9 and stole seven bases, but left 16 runners on base. Morales led Sioux Falls by going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Marcos picked up two hits with 3 RBIs, while Nick Van Stratten, Jared Clark and Anthony Trajano had two hits apiece.

The RedHawks trailed early but scored five runs in the third off five hits, including RBI singles by C.J. Retherford and Buddy Sosnoskie.

Sioux Falls (23-35) cut the Fargo-Moorhead lead to 5-3 in the seventh, before the RedHawks responded with three runs in the bottom half. Keith Brachold’s RBI fielder’s choice was the eventual game-winning run. Tim Alberts went 3-for-3 with a run scored for the ‘Hawks and Retherford had two hits for the only other multi-hit game.

RedHawks reliever Joe Harris earned his seventh win of the season after giving up one earned run and striking out four in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Harris appeared in his 100^th game for Fargo-Moorhead, tying Steve Montgomery for fourth most games pitched in club history.

Adam Champion (4-6) pitched six innings and allowed five runs (two earned), scattered seven hits, while walking two and striking out three in the loss. RedHawks starter Paul Burnside went 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits in the no-decision.

The RedHawks travel to Sioux City to take on the Explorers in a four-game series, but return home Tuesday, July 23, to host the St. Paul Saints in the start of a six-game homestand. Tickets are available at fmredhawks.com or by calling (701) 235-6161.