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AA St. Paul Saints

Nothing Messy About this One as Saints Cruise to 11-4 Victory over Canaries

August 14, 2018 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - An entire ballpark of fans partook in a food fight at the end of the fifth inning on Tuesday night at CHS Field. The St. Paul Saints feasted on Sioux Falls Canaries starter Mark Seyler well before that, knocking him out after nine runs in 4.0 innings, as all nine Saints starters collected a hit as they coasted to an 11-4 victory in front of 7,270. The Saints improved to 46-36 on the season and remained tied for first place in the North Division with the Gary SouthShore Railcats, who defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes, with 18 games remaining. The Saints increased their lead for the second playoff spot to 1.5 games over Fargo-Moorhead after their rainout at Kansas City.

The Saints ended Monday night's game by scoring eight runs in the ninth inning. They nearly matched that in the third inning on Tuesday as they plated seven off of Seyler. With one out Aaron Gretz singled to center and Joey Wong followed with a walk. Max Murphy knocked them both home with a double to right-center making it 2-0 Saints. Kyle Barrett's infield single to second put runners on the corners and a walk to Burt Reynolds loaded the bases. Brady Shoemaker made it 4-0 with a two-run single to left. With two outs Dante Bichette Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a three-run homer to left, his fifth of the season, making it 7-0. Bichette Jr. finished the night 2-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.

In the fourth the Saints used the long ball again as Gretz doubled to right and Wong hit his first home run with the Saints, a two-run shot to right, making it 9-0.

With the Saints up 9-1 in the fifth Wong struck again. Nathaniel Maggio extended his hitting streak to a team season-tying high 16 with a single to left to start the inning. Gretz collected his second double of the night putting runners at second and third. Gretz finished the night 3-3 with two doubles and three runs scored. Wong drove them both home with a single to right-center making it 11-1. Wong finished the night 2-3 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.

Saints starter Eddie Medina had more than enough run support and the man fourth in the league in pitching was on his game. In the fifth he gave up an unearned run after Patrick Fiala reached on a one out throwing error by Bichette Jr. at third. Dan Motl doubled him to third and David Bergin's sacrifice fly put the Canaries on the board.

In the sixth Mike Hart singled to left with one out. Maxx Garrett walked. With two outs Fiala hit a grounder to Bichette Jr. at third. He tried to tag Hart going by, but he avoided the tag and then Bichette Jr's throw to first was just late. A wild pitch would score Hart to make it 11-2. Medina went 6.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out six. He lowered his ERA to 2.53, still fourth in the league but just .07 from the top spot.

The same two teams meet in game three of the four game series on Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints are TBA while the Canaries send RHP Miles Nordgren (1-4, 4.50) to the mound. It is an afternoon matinee. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, canle access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and heard on Alt 93.3 FM.

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