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St. Paul Saints

International Flavor as Saints Win 8-4 in 11

May 29, 2015 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


AMARILLO, TX - Last season the St. Paul Saints won the very first game under the international extra inning rule when they defeated the Can-Am League Quebec les Capitales 9-6. The American Association adopted the rule this season and the first time the Saints played under those rules in 2015 they scored four in the 11th to win 8-4 over the Amarillo Thunderheads at Potter County Memorial Stadium on Thursday night.

The international extra inning rule states that once a game enters the 11th the batter who made the last out of the 10th starts the inning at second. With Anthony Phillips starting at second, Alonzo Harris laid down a bunt. The catcher Jordan Guida decided to throw to third, but his throw was not in time. With runners at the corners Sam Maus struck out and Willie Argo flew out to shallow left. On the flyout Harris tagged up and went to second. Ian Gac was intentionally walked. That brought up Mike Kvasnicka who singled down the left field line that scored a pair. The left fielder bobbled the ball allowing a third run to score and sending Kvasnicka to third, giving the Saints a 7-4 lead. Angelo Songco drove home Kvasnicka with a single. He finished the night 4-5 with a double and an RBI.

In the bottom of the 11th Ryan Rodebaugh wasn't fazed with a runner at second striking out two and getting a ground out to lock down the victory.

The Thunderheads got on the board first in the first. Logan Vick hit a fly ball to right that landed in front of Kvasnicka and bounced over his head for a triple. With one out Jason Martin's sacrifice fly gave the Thunderheads a 1-0 lead. Geraldo Valentin's solo homer, his first of the season, made it 2-0.

Saints starter Kramer Sneed settled down after that and was masterful the rest of the way. In the third he got a little help from his defense when Drew Heid led off with a double. With one out Valentin singled him to third. Valentin rounded first too far, got into a run down, Heid broke for home and second baseman Sam Maus threw him out at home. Sneed went 7.0 strong innings allowing two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out six.

The Saints tied the game in the fourth. Maus reached on an error when his bunt to third was fielded by Zach MacPhee and his throw to first pulled the first baseman off the bag. Willie Argo's single sent Maus to third. With Argo stealing second, a wild pitch scored Maus to make it 2-1. Gac collected the first of his four hit's with an RBI double to tie the game at two.

In the sixth Gac led off with a single to third. Kvasnicka doubled him to third. After an intentional walk to Songco, Viny DiFazio made it 3-2 with an RBI single. DiFazio finished the night 3-3 with a double and an RBI.

In the eighth the Thunderheads tied it up when Heid singled, moved to third on a single by Valentin and scored on Rene Leveret's single.

Gac looked like he would play the role of hero in the ninth. Argo walked with one out and Gac doubled him home to give the Saints a 4-3 lead. Gac went 4-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.

The Saints couldn't close it in the bottom of the ninth, however, as Juan Martinez led off with a single. He was sacrificed to second and scored on a single by Guida.

The Saints head to Uni-Trade Stadium to take on the Laredo Lemurs in the first of a three game series on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Saints send RHP Jeff Shields (1-0, 1.80) to the mound against Lemurs RHP Chad Povich (0-1, 1.80). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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