Jose Sermo guides RedHawks to comeback win over Canaries
Dylan Engel / dylanengelphotography.com
FARGO — Jose Sermo starred for the RedHawks Friday at Newman Outdoor Field, leading Fargo-Moorhead (41-36) to a 4-3 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries (39-39) in front of 3,606 fans.
Sermo went 2-for-4 at the plate, including a 111-mph blast deep over the wall in right field that tied the game 3-3 in the sixth inning.
Then, with the game still tied in the eighth inning, Sermo made a mad dash towards third base on a steal attempt and forced an errant throw by Sioux Falls catcher Sean Combs, allowing him to come home and score the go-ahead run.
Sermo’s home run was his 28th of the season. He sits one back of the RedHawks single-season record, set by Jeese Hoorelbeke in 2010. He continues to close in on first place for most AAPB career home runs, now sitting just three back of Sioux Falls outfielder Jabari Henry.
F-M starter Patrick Wicklander allowed two early runs but settled in, throwing five innings of three-run ball and striking out eight batters.
Henson Leal earned the win, tossing 1.1 innings over the seventh and eighth innings. Tyler Jeans earned his 14th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning in which he punched out two batters.
Facing a 2-0 deficit in the fourth inning, Matt Kroon drove in Tucupita Marcano with an RBI groundout. Down two runs in the fifth, back-to-back doubles from Tripp Clark and Aidan Byrne brought the RedHawks within one run once again.
From there, the RedHawks pitching staff locked down the Canaries lineup, finishing the game with four scoreless innings.
The RedHawks return to action on Saturday night for Game 2 of their four-game set against Sioux Falls. First pitch at Newman Outdoor Field is set for 7:02 p.m.
