KANSAS CITY, KS -- Nate Baumann's only hit on Friday night was the biggest of the game for the Sioux Falls Canaries.

The Canaries' second-year pro from Augustana College led off the ninth inning with a home run, breaking a 4-4 tie against the Kansas City T-Bones and sending the Birds to a 6-4 victory at Community America Ballpark. The Canaries (17-30) took three of four games from the T-Bones and won a four-game series for the first time this season. They have four victories in their last five games.

Baumann's home run also gave the Canaries their first win of the year in their final at-bat. He homered twice in the series and has six round-trippers this season.

Nick Van Stratten singled home a run later in the ninth inning for an insurance run, capping four unanswered runs by the Canaries. Trailing 4-2 in the seventh inning, Stephen King scored on Van Stratten's squeeze bunt. Cory Morales then tied the game with a two-out single to right field, plating Kevin Dultz. The game featured three different ties of 1-1, 2-2 and 4-4 after remaining scoreless through three innings.

Canaries reliever Matt Daly (1-0) notched his first win of the year by pitching two scoreless innings in relief of starter Kyle Ruwe. After yielding a leadoff infield single in the seventh inning with the game tied, he induced a key double play and strikeout. In the eighth, a potential go-ahead run reached third, but Daly struck out the side.

Alan DeRatt tossed a perfect ninth inning for his ninth save. He has converted all nine save opportunities this season.

Morales and Van Stratten each had two hits and two RBI to lead the Birds' attack, which produced just seven hits. But the Canaries played a lot of small ball with three sacrifice hits, two stolen bases and two run-scoring groundouts.

Chad Robinson (0-2) suffered the loss in relief for Kansas City, whose record dropped to 17-30. A strong start by newcomer Connor Graham went spoiled. He yielded four runs, three earned, in 6 1/3 innings.

Ruwe took a no-decision for the first time in 10 starts. He battled through six innings, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings.

The Canaries open a four-game series against the Lincoln Saltdogs beginning at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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