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Saints Gripp It And Rip It With Walk Off Homer

June 8, 2007 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (June 8, 2007) - The St. Paul Saints looked like they had the game wrapped up with a 4-0 lead going into the ninth, but it took a dramatic walk off homerun from Ryan Gripp to defeat the Sioux Falls Canaries 5-4 on Friday night at Midway Stadium in front of 6,031.

With all the momentum on the side of the Canaries after getting two homers in the top of the ninth, Gripp stole the show. On a 3-2 pitch, with nobody out in the ninth, Gripp clubbed a fastball over the left field wall, a walk off shot, for his second homer of the season. Gripp, who a week ago was doing dry wall and construction in Iowa, hit his second homer in as many days.

Going into the ninth the Saints were up 4-0. Tony Pierce came into the game to finish it up and after getting the first hitter on strikes gave up a double to James Shanks. David Keese followed by flying out to left. Pierce walked Abner Arroyo and then gave up a three-run homer to Wil Quintana, his league leading seventh of the season. The very next batter, Matt Imwalle, homered to right-center, his sixth of the season, tying the game at four.

Saints starter Adam Brandenburg was sterling for 8.0 innings allowing just three hits while walking one and striking out six. He faced the minimum through six innings picking off two runners in the first and getting a double play ground out in the fifth.

The Saints got on the board in the first inning when Scooter Jordan led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Adam Olow's sacrifice fly.

In the fifth, Brent Krause doubled to right field and Josue Lopez followed with a walk. Gripp then laid down a sac bunt which pitcher Kevin Cheppenko threw away at first, allowing Krause to score to make it 2-0.

In the sixth Krause doubled home Brian Sprout and Marcel Longmire's RBI single in the eighth made it 4-0.

The same two teams meet on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send LHP Brian Whinnery (0-1, 3.91) against Canaries RHP Micah Posey (1-3, 4.00). The game can be seen on KSTC.TV, Channel 45 and heard live on KBGY 107.5 FM. It's Pigs in Space, a salute to the highs and lows of the space program, presented by Avis Rent a Car.

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