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AA St. Paul Saints

Crenshaw Ties Franchise Record with 12th Win in Rain Shortened Saints Victory

August 6, 2015 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (August 6, 2015) - Mother nature cut the fanfare short as Dustin Crenshaw tied the St. Paul Saints franchise record with his 12th win of the season as the Saints benefitted from a slew of Lincoln Saltdogs defensive mishaps to take a 3-0 victory in a rain 5.0 inning rain shortened ballgame at CHS Field Thursday night in front of 8,104. With the win the Saints claimed their sixth in a row, improved to 54-16 and won their 18th series of the season and are now 19-0-2 in 21 series this season. They maintain at least a 20.5 game lead depending on the outcome of Winnipeg's game with Gary SouthShore.

Crenshaw had his usual brilliance going early as he retired the first six Saltdogs batters he faced until allowing a seeing-eye single by Brian Joynt to lead off the third inning. With one out Tucker White reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second. White would be the first and last Saltdog baserunner to reach second as Crenshaw forced a fly out to left field by Matt Forgatch.

The Saints provided all the necessary run support for their ace in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Angelo Songco led off the inning by hitting a fly ball in the gap to left-center that fell between White in center and Matt Forgatch in left as White backed off the catch at the last moment. With one out, Joey Paciorek drove in the first run of the ballgame with an RBI single to right.

Songco drew a walk to leadoff of the fourth. With one out Paciorek hit a ball sharply along the first base line that ricocheted off the glove of the first baseman Curt Smith. Brian Joynt bobbled the ball in foul territory allowing Songco to score on the error to make it 2-0.

Dan Kaczrowski led off the fifth inning with a single to left to give the Saints their fourth leadoff baserunner in a row and set up the Saints for an insurance run. With one out, Willie Argo drew a walk before Vinny Difazio smacked a base hit to left field to drive in Kaczrowski making it 3-0. After DiFazio's run scoring single, the light drizzle at CHS Field turned into a downpour and the tarp was put on the field. Approximately 30 minutes after the tarp was put on the field the game was called.

Dustin Crenshaw improved to 12-1 on the year, matching the Saints franchise record, after a two-hit, 5.0 inning complete game shutout. It was the fourth complete game and second shutout of the season for Crenshaw who becomes the sixth 12-game winner in Saints history and the first since Robert Coe accomplished the feat in 2012. Joey Paciorek went 2-2 with an RBI for the Saints. The Saints have not allowed a run in 15.0 consecutive innings.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Friday night to wrap up the season series with Lincoln at CHS Field at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send LHP Kramer Sneed (10-2, 3.06) to the mound as Jesse Smith (2-5, 4.59) opposes him for the Saltdogs. It is Camp Out Night Presented by Gander Mountain. It is also Xcel Energy Friday Night Fireworks with the music of KISS. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in the Twin Cities area, heard on Club 1220 KLBB and in the ballpark on 97.9 FM.

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