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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Outlast Canaries in Longest Nine Inning Game in Franchise History

June 11, 2016 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, SD - It wasn't the prettiest of ballgames. A total of 410 pitches were thrown between the two teams. The Saints didn't have a pitcher throw more than 2.2 innings and won. After four hours and six minutes, the longest nine inning game in franchise history, the Saints outlasted the Sioux Falls Canaries 18-10 on Friday night at Sioux Falls Stadium. They won for the third straight time, improved to 15-8 on the season, best record in the American Association, and 7-5 on their 14 game roadtrip, the longest in franchise history.

Eight of the nine Saints starters collected a hit, six of nine had a multi-hit, seven of nine scored a run and six of nine collected an RBI. Nate Hanson set a career high with five RBI and four runs scored as he went 4-5 with a home run. Angelo Songco collected five RBI for the fifth time in his career as he went 2-4 with two doubles. Tony Thomas extended his hitting streak to 22 games, tying the second longest in franchise history with Matt Stark (August 1-22, 1994) and Marcel Longmire (June 7 - July 5, 2007). Corey Harris holds the Saints record with a 28 game hitting streak from May 27-June 25, 2003.

The game on Friday night surpassed by two minutes the only other nine inning game in Saints history to go more than four hours. On July 10, 1998 the Saints lost at Winnipeg 10-5 in a game that went four hours and four minutes.

While the offense appeared to be the story, reliever Benji Waite may have been the real story. With starter Cody Scarpetta struggling with his command and lasting just 2.1 innings Waite came on in the third inning with the bases loaded and one out and the Saints down 5-4. He struck out Aaron Owen and got Frank Martinez to bounce back to the mound to end the inning and keep it a one run game. Waite went 2.2 hitless innings walking one and striking out one to earn the victory.

That momentum allowed the Saints to tie the game in the fourth and rattle off 14 consecutive runs. Alonzo Harris singled home Tanner Vavra to tie the game at five.

In the fifth the Saints took the lead for good when they loaded the bases with two outs. Maxx Garrett came through with a two-run single to left giving the Saints a 7-5 lead.

With the Saints leading 8-5 in the seventh they exploded for six runs on a bases loaded walk to Breland Almadova, an RBI single by Hanson and a bases clearing double from Songco. He would later score on a wild pitch to give the Saints a 14-5 lead.

They capped off their scoring in the eighth when Hanson hit a three-run homer, his fifth of the season, and two batters later Thomas hit a solo shot, his sixth of the season, to make it 18-5.

The 18 runs scored by the Saints tied a season high which they set back on May 21 vs. Gary.

Cody Wheeler pitched 2.0 hitless innings of relief walking one and striking out one.

The Saint drew a season high 11 walks.

The same two teams meet Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. in game three of the four game series at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Saints send RHP John Straka (2-1, 7.54) to the mound against Canaries RHP Shawn Blackwell (2-1, 4.73). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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