SIOUX FALLS – The Sioux Falls Canaries blasted four home runs en route to a commanding 8-1 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes Thursday at The Birdcage. Ed Reichenbach, Logan Landon, Troy Alexander and Mike Hart each went deep to power the Birds win.

Starter Ty Culbreth (1-0) dominated on the mound, striking out six in six scoreless innings to earn his first win of 2021. Reichenbach gave him more than enough support with an opposite field, three-run homer in the second off Winnipeg hurler Joey Gonzalez.

The longball was the first in professional baseball for Reichenbach since he starred for the Roswell Invaders of the PECOS League in 2018. A former star at the University of Sioux Falls, Reichenbach started at third base in his Birds debut after signing with the team just four days ago.

The game was another gem in the treasure chest for the sensational Landon. The center fielder, who emerged as one of the best in the American Association in 2020, finished with three hits, including a resounding homer to left center in the seventh. Alexander added his first homer in a Canaries jersey as the next batter. Hart pulverized an eighth-inning offering from Fish reliever Jose Jose to put an exclamation point on the evening.

The Canaries won once again despite being outhit 10-8. Both Canaries wins in the series came in games in which the Goldeyes racked up more hits. Charlie Hasty recorded two scoreless innings of relief for the Birds. Canary hurlers stranded nine Winnipeg Goldeyes on the basepaths.

Sioux Falls (2-1) will look to keep the good times rolling at The Birdcage with a fresh three-game series vs. the Kane County Cougars (1-2). Game 1 starts Friday at 7:05 pm. RHP Eddie Medina is expected to start for the Birds vs. RHP Scott Harkin for the Cougars. A live stream will be available at aabaseball.tv, and fans can listen to all 100 regular season games on Fox Sports 98.1 KWSN.

Friday will be First Responders Night at The Birdcage. The Canaries will honor those who are first to the scene to save lives with free admission for all police, firefighters and EMTs who present a valid work ID at the ticket office. A special ceremony will honor first responders prior to the game. The night will also feature a police vs fireman/firewoman vs EMT race. The evening will also feature the first Friday All-Star Fireworks Show of the season immediately after the game.

For more information on the Canaries, follow the team on Twitter @canaries. To purchase tickets and for all other team information, visit sfcanaries.com. Media contact: joey@sfcanaries.com.

Boxscore

By Joey Zanaboni, Sioux Falls Canaries