With almost exactly a month left in the season, two of the St. Paul Saints key players have established themselves as front-runners for post-season awards. Dustin Crenshaw leads the league in wins and is looking like the prime candidate for the American Association’s top pitcher. Angelo Songco leads the league in RBI and has made himself the favorite for league MVP. These two came together Thursday night to lead the club to a 3-0 victory in a game that was called after five due to severe weather.

Crenshaw faced off against the Lincoln Saltdogs Casey Collins. Collins was able to retire the Saints in order in the first, but in the second Songco’s hustle keyed a rally to put the team ahead. Collins first pitch to the St. Paul first baseman was hit to center field, but Tucker White seemed to lose it in the lights at the last second, and the ball dropped in just behind him. Songco hustled out of the box with the crack of the bat and that hustle allowed him to reach second. Two batters later Joey Paciorek reached out and lined a bloop single into right field for a base hit that scored Songco to give the Saints the lead.

In the fourth the St. Paul Saints extended their lead, and it was Songco’s hustle that led the way again. He led off the inning by drawing a walk. Two batters later Paciorek came up big again, going the opposite way over the first base bag for a double that rolled near the tarp along right field. Songco ran hard and when the Lincoln right fielder misplayed the ball for an error, Songco was easily able to score.

The home team added one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dan Kaczrowski singled to begin the inning and moved to second on an error. After Willie Argo walked, Vinny DiFazio singled to score Kaczrowski to make it 3-0. The rain then came and after about a 45 minute wait the game was called.

Prior to the game being called, the St. Paul Saints Dustin Crenshaw was dominating on the mound. He retired the first six batters of the game, before allowing a single to Brian Joynt to lead off the third. In the top of the fourth he allowed a one out single to Mitch Canham. That would be all the base runners the right-hander would allow.

Crenshaw (12-1) earned his 12th win of the season with the two-hit shutout. That is his second shutout of the season, and lowered his ERA back below two (1.97). The righty also ran his personal scoreless streak to 13 innings.

Songco finished 1-1 with 2 runs scored and a walk. Paciorek was 2-2 with the game winning RBI. Paciorek has raised his average 26 points over the last 16 games, but has been even more impressive behind the plate. He has caught the last two games, and both have been shutouts. His starters have allowed three hits in those 14 innings.

The victory was the club’s 54th in 70 games, and their sixth straight win. They are now 21 games ahead of the Winnipeg Goldeyes and their magic number is already down to 10.

Boxscore Provided by the American Association

By Robert Pannier