The Sioux Falls Canaries scored all eight runs in the late innings, including a four-run eighth, as the Canaries beat their I-29 rival Sioux City Explorers 8-4 on Tuesday night.

Starter Ray Hanson by no means had a bad day on the hill. He only gave up two runs in six innings of work, scattering ten hits over those six inning. He also picked up five strikeouts on the day as well. However, by night’s end, he took a no-decision.

The Explorers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Derrick Robinson led off with a single, then stole second. Ralph Henriquez then drove in Robinson with a single to center to put the X’s in front 1-0.

The X’s added another run in the third. Back-to-back singles started the inning, then both runners advanced on a groundout to first. Nate Samson picked up his 61st RBI of the year, driving in Bryan Johns from third.

The Canaries began their comeback attempt in the sixth. Jake Taylor reached base courtesy of a pitch to the ribs. Taylor scooted all the way around to third on a J.C. Linares single, putting runners at the corners with only one away. Blake Schmit drove in Taylor with a RBI fielder’s choice to cut the X’s lead to 2-1.

Sioux Falls took the lead for the first time in the seventh inning. Mike Falsetti was hit by a pitch to reach with one away. Ethan Chapman then roped a two-out double to the left field corner, allowing Falsetti to score all the way from first, aided by an error on the left fielder, to tie the game at two. Darwin Perez smashed a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right-center to give the Birds a 4-2 lead.

Sioux City rallied back in the top of the eighth. Three straight singles loaded the bases to start the inning. Ino Patron tagged a Madison Boer offering to the gap in right-center, scoring two runs, and tying the ballgame at four.

The Canaries offense then exploded in the eighth. After Linares flew out to start the inning, Schmit, Monger, and B.J. Guinn all reached to load the bases. Mike Falsetti drove in Schmit with an infield single as the Canaries retook the lead at 5-4. Aaron Owen hit a bloop single over the third baseman, scoring Monger from third to add an insurance run at 6-4. Chapman drove in Guinn with a sacrifice fly, and Falsetti scored on a wild pitch to push the Canaries lead to 8-4, where it would stay for the remainder of the game as Jose Ortega came in to earn the save in the ninth.

The Canaries will send LHP Kris Regas (4-7, 4.89 ERA) to the hill on Wednesday night. Regas will be taking on LHP Cody Forsythe (10-4, 1.47 ERA) in a battle of southpaws. Wednesday is Wacky Wednesday at The Birdcage. The U.S. Marine Corps will be the game sponsor on Wednesday night and will have an information table set up in the main concourse. Contact the Canaries ticket office for information regarding single game or season ticket options by calling 605-336-6060 or visit the website at www.sfcanaries.com for more information.

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