ROSEMONT, ILL. (KELO.com) — Sometimes, the game of baseball can take its time. For the Sioux Falls Canaries on Thursday night, that time was five hours and five minutes.
The Birds saw leads of seven and four runs evaporate, endured two game-tying three-run homers from the Chicago Dogs, and needed an outstanding leaping catch from Mike Hart to extend the game in the 10th. But in the end, a 12th-inning three-run double from Ryan Long made the difference in a 17-14 Birds victory.
The win moves Sioux Falls to 8-3 on the year, keeping them one game above Milwaukee for first place in the American Association. The Birds have won seven of their last eight games.
The Birds got off to a hot start. Chicago opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Canaries responded with eight runs in the top of the second to take an 8-1 lead. K.C. Huth, Jabari Henry and Alay Lago each had two-run hits in the inning. All eight Canaries runs scored with no one out.
The Dogs began their comeback in the bottom of the second, when a Tony Rosselli RBI single made it 8-2 Sioux Falls.
Chicago added three more in the third off Birds starter Tyler Herron. K.C. Hobson drove in the first run with an RBI triple, Tyler Ladendorf scored Hobson with a double, and Ladendorf scored on an RBI single from Victor Roache.
Herron left the game after three innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking none and striking out two.
The Dogs tied the score in the fourth against Canaries reliever Kevin Folman. After a pair of walks put men on first and second, Hobson hit a three-run homer to make it 8-8. Hobson finished the game with five RBIs, a double short of the cycle.
The Birds retook the lead with a four-run sixth inning. Andrew Ely started the rally with a walk, and back-to-back singles from Jabari Henry and Alay Lago brought him in to score the go-ahead run. Two batters later with men on second and third, Clint Coulter hit a grounder to Hobson at first base. Hobson threw home to try to get Henry, but Henry slid in safely. The ball got away, allowing Lago to score the third run of the inning.
The next batter, Hart, made it 12-8 with an unusual double to left field. Ladendorf, the shortstop, collided with Roache in left field as both tried to make the play. The ball landed untouched for the RBI two-bagger.
Chicago rallied again in the seventh, plating three runs. Roach hit a two-run home run off D.J. Sharabi to make it 12-10. The homer was initially ruled a double, but the umpiring crew ruled it made it just over the wall in left field.
Ryan Fritze replaced Sharabi and allowed a bases-loaded walk to cut the lead to 12-11. He got a strike out and a pop fly to escape the jam with the lead intact.
Sioux Falls made it 14-11 in the top of the eighth. Long delivered an RBI single and Huth pushed across another run with a sacrifice fly.
The Dogs tied the game in the eighth against Birds lefty Will Solomon. Solomon allowed a pair of walks to put two on, and Dogs leadoff hitter Blake Allemand hit a three-run homer to tie the game at 14.
With both teams short on pitching, Jalen Miller took the mound for Chicago and Kurt Heyer came in to pitch for the Canaries. Miller quieted the Birds’ bats, not allowing a hit in innings nine through 11.
The Dogs made it a little more interesting against Heyer. Michael Crouse singled and stole second in the ninth, but was stranded there after Rosselli struck out looking to end the inning.
Chicago threatened again in the tenth. Allemand drew a one-out walk, and advanced to second on a groundout. That brought up Joey Terdoslavich, who hit a fly ball deep into the left center field gap. Hart ran toward the warning trap, leaped, and made a backhanded catch falling toward the wall.
Crouse was stranded on second in the 11th, finishing Heyer’s final inning on the mound. Heyer earned the win, throwing three scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and walked three, striking out one.
The Birds’ 12th-inning rally started when Damek Tomscha was hit by a pitch. Clint Coulter hit a double to left to put men on second and third, and Hart was intentionally walked to load the bases. That brought up Long, who hit a fly ball to the deepest part of the ballpark toward right center. The ball rolled to the wall, and all three runners scored, making it 17-14.
Keaton Steele threw the 12th, allowing two hits but hanging on for his league-leading fifth save of the season.
The game was the highest-scoring and longest game of the Canaries’ 2020 season. It was the longest Birds game by time since their 18-inning win over Winnipeg on July 10, 2018.
UP NEXT
The Birds travel to Fargo, North Dakota to face the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Newman Outdoor Field on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Grady Wood will start for the Canaries; Kevin Hilton will get the ball for Winnipeg.
Canaries fans can find links to watch and listen at SFCanaries.com.
(Story by Carter Woodiel, SF Canaries)
