SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Sioux Falls Canaries starter Kyle Ruwe turned in a complete-game on Monday night, but the offense couldn’t provide him with enough support as the Birds fell 5-1 to the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the first-place Goldeyes (11-6), who extended their North Division lead to 5 ½ games ahead of the Canaries (6-12).

The Birds had plenty of chances to break through against Winnipeg starter Justin Garcia (3-0), putting the leadoff man on in five innings, but their offense was unable to take advantage. Garcia failed to retire two consecutive men only once in his 7 1/3 innings pitched when he allowed back-to-back singles in the second inning. The only run he allowed was unearned on Jake Taylor’s sacrifice fly in the third.

Canaries starter Ruwe (2-2) suffered the tough-luck, complete game loss, allowing five runs on nine hits, but he held Winnipeg to two runs on six hits through 7 2/3 innings.  He walked three and struck out none.

Winnipeg broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning.  Leonard Davis walked, and Casey Haerther’s single to right field was misplayed by Steve Domecus, allowing Davis to score and Haerther to reach second.  Luis Alen knocked Hearther in with an RBI single, and it was 2-0 Goldeyes.

Sioux Falls answered with a run in the bottom of the third with Taylor’s sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 2-1 Winnipeg.

Ruwe and Garcia settled in at that point, keeping both offenses at bay until the eighth, when the Goldeyes added to their lead on Haerther’s solo home run in the eighth. Winnipeg also tacked on two runs in the ninth on a Nate Samson RBI triple and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Fehlandt Lentini.

Haerther and Alen carried the offensive load for the Fish.  Haerther went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, while Alen had a two-hit day with an RBI and a run scored.

John Alonso and Van Stratten each had two hits for Sioux Falls.  Alonso snapped a string of three consecutive games with a home run, but he extended a hitting streak to eight games.

Game two of the four-game series is 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday  at the Birdcage.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

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