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AA St. Paul Saints

Record Night, Saints Get to 31 over .500 for First Time in Franchise History with 5-4 Win

July 22, 2015 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (July 21, 2015) - The St. Paul Saints are rewriting the record books both on and off the field. On a night the organization set the Guinness Book of World Records for Largest Pillow Fight at 6,261, the team set a franchise record by getting to 31 games over .500 for the first time in their 23 seasons. Dustin Crenshaw was impressive on the mound and the Saints hung on for a 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes in front of 8,960 at CHS Field. They improved to 44-13 and have a 19.5 game lead in the North Division.

The Saints jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning when Willie Argo singled with one out. Vinny DiFazio, the league's leading hitter, roped an RBI double to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. After an intentional walk to Angelo Songco, Mike Kvasnicka belted a three-run homer to left, his ninth of the season. Kvasnicka finished the night 2-4 with a double, homer, three RBI and a run scored.

That was enough for Crenshaw who was his usual spectacular self. He retired the first 12 men of the game before giving up a leadoff infield single to start the fifth when Reggie Abercrombie legged out a slow grounder to first and beat the throw as Crenshaw covered the bag.

In the sixth Crenshaw ran into his only trouble of the night. He gave up a leadoff double to Nic Jackson. With two outs Adam Heisler singled home Jackson to make it 4-1. Heisler stole second and scored on a single by Casio Grider to make it 4-2. The final hit Crenshaw gave up was an RBI double to Casey Haerther to make it 4-3. He got Reggie Abercrombie to hit a comebacker to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning Ryan Lashley hit his first homer with the Saints, a solo shot to right, to give the Saints a two run lead.

Crenshaw pitched into the eighth; retiring the first man he faced before being removed. He went 7.1 innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five. He improved to 9-1 and has not walked a batter in 72.0 innings, just 0.1 innings shy of tying Greg Madux' National League record for longest stretch between free passes. He has walked one batter in 87.0 innings pitched.

In the ninth Ryan Rodebaugh came on for the save. He retired the first two men he faced before Josh Mazzola hit a solo homer, his 13th of the season, to cut the Saints lead to one. Rodebaugh would strike out Nic Jackson to end the game and earn his 14th save of the season.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the four game series on Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Saints send LHP Pedro Hernandez (5-2, 3.55) to the mound against Goldeyes RHP Coby Cowgill (2-3, 4.85). It is Save Ferris Day. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, Cable Access channels in the Twin Cities, heard on Club 1220 KLBB and in the ballpark on 97.9 FM.

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American Association Stories from July 22, 2015


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