A couple of extra days rest between starts reaped big dividends on Friday night, as Dustin Crenshaw shutout the Winnipeg Goldeyes for eight innings, before earning the complete game 10-2 victory. The St. Paul Saints starter moved his record to 7-1 on the season, one game behind league leader and teammate Kramer Sneed for most wins in the American Association.

Coby Cowgill started for Winnipeg, and was keeping this a close game for five innings. He did have a bit of a shaky first inning when the Saints jumped out to the 1-0 lead. The Goldeyes starter retired the first two hitters, then walked Vinny DiFazio. Ian Gac followed with a single to left field, and Angelo Songco continued his hot streak, singling to right field to score DiFazio.

It remained a one-run game into the fifth when St. Paul would extend their lead. Cowgill retired the first hitter of the inning, but Alonzo Harris followed with his sixth home run of the season. The solo shot made it 2-0.

The home run proved to be a catalyst as the St. Paul Saints scored two runs in each of the final four innings. In the sixth Mike Kvasnicka doubled with one out and came around to score when Joey Paciorek followed with a double of his own. A wild pitch moved Paciorek to third, and Anthony Phillips singled to bring home Paciorek to make it 4-0. That would be it for Cowgill (2-2.

In the seventh Willie Argo led off with a single and moved to second after DiFazio was walked. Gac grounded into a fielder’s choice that put him at first and Argo at third. That brought Songco to the plate. The first baseman worked the count to 2-1, then ripped a pitch over the center fielder’s head that he stretched into a triple. Both runners came around to score and it was 6-0.

Songco has been absolutely crushing the ball of late. He finished the game 2-5 with 3 RBI. Over his last four games he is 11-16 with 4 runs and 5 RBI. The run moved his average to .353, which is fifth in the American Association. His 3 RBI gives him 40, ranked No. 1 in the league.

In the eighth Willie Argo extended the lead. Dan Kaczrowski singled with one out. Two batters later Argo was at-bat. He took two called strikes, then blasted a shot over the left field fence for a two-run homer. His eighth home run of the season made it 8-0. Argo finished the game 2-5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.

In the ninth the St. Paul Saints got their final two runs of the game, and it was the long ball that produced their final two runs. Gac walked to begin the inning. Two batters later Kvasnicka hit his seventh home run of the season to make it 10-0. Kvasnicka finished with an identical line to that of Argo, going 2-5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.

Crenshaw had been masterful all game long. He retired 14 of the first 17 hitters he faced, allowing just three singles, and one of those runners was erased by a double-play. In the sixth the Winnipeg Goldeyes mounted their first real threat of the game, but Crenshaw showed why he has been so brilliant all season long. He gave up a one out double to Adam Heisler and an infield single kept Heisler at second and put Chris Robinson at first. The big right-hander got Casey Haerther to ground into a double-play to end the inning and keep the Goldeyes off the scoreboard.

In the ninth, the Goldeyes were finally able to break the scoreless string. Robinson led off the bottom of the frame with his first home run of the season. Three batters later Josh Mazzola hit his 11th home run to make it 10-2. Mazzola now leads the league in home runs.

Crenshaw (7-1) retired the final hitter of the game to earn the complete game victory. He now has three complete games, which is tied for the American Association lead. The St. Paul Saints starter allowed 10 hits and 2 runs. He did not walk or strikeout a batter.

Boxscore Provided by the American Association.

By Robert Pannier