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AA St. Paul Saints

Eight Run Ninth Not Enough for Saints in 12-8 Loss to Canaries

August 13, 2018 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints nearly had one of the more historic comebacks in franchise history as they plated eight runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Unfortunately, they entered the inning trailing by 12 and lost 12-8 to the Sioux Falls Canaries on Monday night at CHS Field in front 7,553. The loss drops the Saints to 45-36, but they remained tied for first place with the Gary SouthShore Railcats by virtue of their 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Goldeyes. The Saints' lead over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for the second playoff spot is now just 1.0 game, with 19 games remaining, as the RedHawks were idle on Monday night.

The Saints sent 12 men to the plate in the ninth inning and made it entertaining. Jake Smith walked and, with one out, Dante Bichette Jr. singled. Nathaniel Maggio extended his hitting streak to 15 with an RBI single to right-center making it 12-1. A single by Aaron Gretz loaded the bases. Joey Wong walked to make it 12-2. Back-to-back singles by Max Murphy and Kyle Barrett, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games, made it 12-4. After a pitching change and a strikeout of Burt Reynolds, Smith cleared the bases with a double to left making it 12-7. An RBI double by Walters cut the deficit to four. The Canaries went to the bullpen one more time for their closer Kyle Schepel who struck out Bichette Jr. to end the game.

The Canaries scored at least a run in eight of the nine innings. The lone inning they didn't score a run in was the eighth when, with a runner at second and two outs, the shortstop Wong made an incredible running catch into left-center field.

Saints pitchers had trouble up and down the lineup and both Jabari Henry and Patrick Fiala finished a triple shy of the cycle. Henry went 4-5 with two doubles, a home run and six RBI.

Saints starter Matt Solter lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits while walking four. Ryan Boelter came on in relief and lasted 2.1 innings allowing four runs on three hits while walking one and striking out three.

Saints second baseman Walters pitched the final 2.0 innings and fared the best allowing just a run on two hits.

The same two teams meet in game two of the four game series on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send RHP Eddie Medina (7-4, 2.59) to the mound against Canaries RHP Mark Seyler (1-1, 2.94). It is the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Animal House with a ballpark wide food fight. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and heard on Alt 93.3 FM.

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