Culbreth Gem Spoiled as Canaries Swept by Dogs
SIOUX FALLS – The Canaries outhit the Dogs 8-2 but fell in the series finale 3-2 at The Birdcage Sunday afternoon. The Canaries will next take on the Sioux City Explorers at Lewis and Clark Park Monday through Thursday.
The finale marked the end of the 29-game hit streak for Wyatt Ulrich, who set the franchise record for most consecutive games with a hit Saturday. He was deprived on a line drive to center in the first and on a great diving play up the middle by shortstop Johnny Adams in the sixth. In an incredible stretch of 29 games, Ulrich finished with 16 multi-hit games. He remains one of the closest challengers in years of the 34-game American Association record mark set by Stephen Douglas of Grand Prairie and El Paso in 2011.
Ty Culbreth (6-3) was credited with the loss for the Sioux Falls Canaries. Culbreth pitched a season-high eight innings, allowing two hits and three runs (three earned). Culbreth struck out six Dogs while also passing out six walks.
The Birds built him a lead in the fourth when Jabari Henry doubled to start the inning and scored on an RBI base hit from Trey Michalczewski.
In the fifth, Culbreth allowed three two-out runs on a passed ball and a two-run home run from Dogs catcher Ryan Haug. The Canaries (19-29) drew within one in the bottom of the fifth on a double play hit into by Henry that scored Cade Gotta. The home team stranded nine.
Garrett Christman (4-3) was credited with the win for the Dogs (31-18). Christman pitched three innings of relief after Ryley Widell fired three innings of scoreless ball as the Chicago starter. Christman allowed seven hits and two runs (two earned). Jeff Kinley recorded his seventh save with two frames of scoreless work to end the game.
The Birds now head to Sioux City to begin a four-game set Monday at 7:05 pm. Starters for both teams are TBA. A live stream of the game will be available on Fox Sports 98.1 FM and via American Association Baseball TV.
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.
By Joey Zanaboni, Sioux Falls Canaries
