Saints Down AirHogs in Marathon 11 Inning Affair, 3-0
A night after the St. Paul Saints needed to rally in the ninth to down the Texas AirHogs, 11-6, the team needed 11 innings to earn their second victory in the series, downing the AirHogs, 3-0. Dante Bichette, Jr. won it with an RBI single in the 11th and Justin O’Conner added a two run single in the frame, as three Saints pitchers combined to toss 11 shutout innings, giving up only 6-hits.
This was an outstanding pitcher’s duel between St. Paul Saints starter Matt Solter and Texas starter Miguel Rosario. Rosario had greatly struggled in his first outing of the season, giving up 5-runs in 1.2-innings pitched, but he was nearly untouchable in this contest.
The Texas starter retired the first eight batters of the contest. Rosario was dominating the Saints, tossing a no-hitter through the first five frames, with a hit by pitch being the only batter to reach. Finally, with two down in the sixth, Richard Prigatano would break up the no-hitter with a base hit, the only hit St. Paul would record in Rosario’s 7-innings of work. He allowed one-walk and struck out 5.
Solter was nearly as dominate for the St. Paul Saints. He allowed just two hits through the first six innings, both doubles, one in the second and one in the fourth. In the seventh, the AirHogs had the first real chance of the game to take the lead. With two down, Casio Grider singled and moved to third on a base hit by Chu Fujia. However, Solter struck out Meng Weiqiang to end the threat and keep the game scoreless.
In the eighth, the Saints had a golden opportunity of their own. Taylor Wright came in and was greeted by a single from Kes Carter. Carter was thrown out trying to steal, but Justin O’Conner followed with a base hit and he moved to second when Prigatano walked two batters later. However, Wright got Max Murphy to ground out to end the inning.
Mike Devine came into the contest for St. Paul and he tossed two scoreless innings. It was not an easy ninth, as he walked the bases loaded with just one down. The right-hander remained cool, getting Chu to ground into a double-play to send the game into extra innings.
In the 11th, the St. Paul Saints finally broke the scoreless tie. With Yang Yanyong on the hill, Jayce Boyd walked with one down. Yang retired Noah Perio, Jr. on a fly out, but Boyd stole second and moved to third on a wild throw. Dante Bichette, Jr. grounded a single to center that scored Boyd to make it 1-0. Carter followed with a double to put two in scoring position, and O’Conner brought both runners home with a two run single to make it 3-0.
Beck Wheeler (2-0) had come on in the 10th for St. Paul and gave up a single. He remained in the contest in the 11th, retiring the side in order to finish off the contest.
Justin O’Conner was 2-5 with 2-RBI for the Saints. Kes Carter was 2-4 with a run scored. Casio Grider was the only player who had 2-hits for the AirHogs.
Game 3 of this four game set for tomorrow. First pitch is at 7:05.
By Robert Pannier