AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Clinch Division Title With 9-8 Win

Published on August 24, 2007 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, SD (August 24, 2007) - It was everything the St. Paul Saints hoped it would be and more as they defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-8 on Friday night at Sioux Falls Stadium, propelling them into the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

The end of the game was as dramatic as any other for the Saints. Leading 9-7 in the eighth inning Jon Huizinga gave up three consecutive singles, the latter scoring Matt Imwalle to make it 9-8. The Saints called upon their closer Tony Pierce to get out of a second and third, one out jam. Pierce got Cameron Coughlan to pop out and then Casey Gordon to fly out to end the threat.

In the ninth Pierce got the first out, but walked Juan Figueroa and then gave up a single to Tim Marks putting runners at first and second. Pierce, however, delivered his specialty getting Imwalle and James Shanks to strike out and the celebration ensued behind the pitchers mound.

The Saints looked like they were going to cruise to a victory scoring six runs in the first two innings. Derrick White blasted a bases clearing double off the center field wall in the first and then scored on a sac fly from Marcel Longmire to make it 4-0.

In the second Ben Thomas led off with a walk and Kevin Sullivan followed with a two-run homer to right, his first of the year, making it 6-0.

The Canaries, however, fought back with five in the third. Coughlan had an RBI double while Orlando Miller singled home a run. Tim Marks belted a three-run homer to left, his third of the season, to make it 6-5.

The Saints scored two more in the fifth inning on two wild pitches and made it 9-5 in the seventh on an RBI single from Fernando Valenzuela Jr.

The Canaries once again fought back with two in the seventh on an RBI ground out from Scott Lydy and an RBI single from Juan Figueroa, but in the end the Saints had enough for the victory.

The final regular season home game is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Both teams are TBA. The game can be heard on KBGY 107.5 FM.

Check out the St. Paul Saints Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Association Stories from August 24, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central