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Sioux Falls, SD – Grady Wood was masterful over 8.2 innings of work, but the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks rallied in the top of the ninth against Wood and Jose Ortega to sweep the Sioux Falls Canaries, 4-1 in front of 2,712 at Sioux Falls Stadium.  

RHP Grady Wood and LHP Tyler Alexander twirled a pitchers’ duel at The Birdcage, each turning in masterful performances on the hill.

Wood didn’t allow a hit till the seventh, pitching six perfect innings against Fargo-Moorhead, while Alexander retired 12 straight after allowing four hits over the first two frames.

Brett Marr, Ty Morrison, Burt Reynolds and Trey Vavra all hit singles over the first two innings for the Birds, but Alexander got the Canaries ground into two double plays to end the threats and leave two runners on base.

Wood allowed a leadoff single to Devan Ahart on a ball the caromed off the pitcher’s leg to end his perfect game, but he worked another the leadoff runner and a hit-by-pitch to strike out the side and end the RedHawks’ threat.

Wood followed with another 1-2-3 frame in the top of the eighth, striking out his eighth and ninth batters of the game, and Jabari Henry gave the Birds the lead with his two-out single in the bottom of the inning, scoring Mike Falsetti from second.

But in the top of the ninth inning, the RedHawks tied the game on a hit-by-pitch, single and fielder’s choice, and took the lead against Ortega on Josh Mazzola’s RBI double to give Wood a tough-luck loss.

Wood allowed three runs on two hits over 8.2 innings pitched, walking just one and striking out nine batters. Alexander allowed one run on seven hits over eight innings pitched, striking out eight and walking just one as well. 

Anthony Pacillo and Trey McNutt combined to pitch a scoreless ninth and give the RedHawks a 4-1 victory and a series sweep of the Canaries. 

Wood takes the loss for the Birds, who fall to 26-32 on the year, while Alexander picks up the win for Fargo-Moorhead, who move to 30-28 on the season.