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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Find New Way to Win, Come from Behind for 5-3 Victory

June 14, 2015 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, SD (June 14, 2015) - In their 19 victories this season the St. Paul Saints didn't have to come from behind in any of them. Trailing by a run in the eighth they proved they could score late and win as Willie Argo and Vinny DiFazio each hit solo homers and the Saints defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries 5-3 to improve to 20-3 and win their seventh straight series to open the season.

With the game tied at one in the top of the seventh Vinny DiFazio led off with a single. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Joey Paciorek. With two outs Anthony Phillips hit a grounder to the right of shortstop Jerome Pena and he had the ball glance off his glove and go into left field allowing DiFazio to score giving the Saints a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, however, Saints starter Jeff Shields made his lone mistake of the evening. With two outs and a man at first RJ Perucki, who had not homered this season, lined a shot over the left field wall for a two-run homer giving the Canaries a 3-2 lead. Shields went 7.0 innings allowing three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three.

The Saints offense would get Shields his fifth win of the season because in the top of the eighth the power showed up. Willie Argo led off the inning with a solo homer off of reliever Tyler Pearson, Argo's fourth of the season tying the game at three. It was the second homer for Argo in as many games. Pearson would leave the game for reliever Cameron McVey. He retired the first two hitters he faced, but DiFazio drilled a solo shot over the left field wall, his fourth of the season, to give the Saints a 4-3 lead.

In the ninth the Saints added a little insurance when Mitch Elliott singled with one out. He advanced to second on a ground out and Ian Gac walked. Angelo Songco, who leads the American Association in RBI, doubled home Elliott to give the Saints a two run cushion.

That was enough for closer Ryan Rodebaugh who notched his sixth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

It was the first victory for the Saints when trailing after seven and they are now 16-0 when they score first. It was the seventh series the Saints have played this season and they have won all seven and are now 9.5 games in front of the Canaries in the North Division.

The Saints head north of the border to take on the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at Shaw Park. The Saints send RHP Drew Gay (0-0, 3.52) to the mound against Goldeyes LHP Kyle Anderson (1-1, 4.43). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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