A night after delivering a huge two-run single in a five-run inning that gave the Sioux Falls Canaries a 7-4 victory over the St. Paul Saints, Ty Morrison came up huge again, this time delivering the go-ahead single in the eighth inning to help give the Canaries a 4-1 win. Morrison’s hit helped to make a winner of American Association All-Star Dylan Thompson and extended the teams winning streak to three.

This was a fantastic pitchers’ duel between Saints starter Benji Waite and the Canaries Miles Nordgren. The two starters only allowed one run through their six innings of work, with both teams being able to get on the board in the third inning.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first two frames. In the top of the third, Aaron Gretz walked and was replaced on the base paths on a fielder’s choice by Dan Motl. He moved to second on an error, and scored when Brett Marr singled up the middle to give Sioux Falls the 1-0 lead.

St. Paul responded right away in the bottom of the third, when Jack Goihl started the inning with a single, and moved to second on a sacrifice. With two down, Mitch Delfino beat out a ground ball for a single, scoring Goihl to tie the game.

From there, neither team was able to muster much offense. The two starters each lasted six innings, allowing only a run a piece. Miles Nordgren went 6-innings, allowing 7-hits, a run and a walk. He struck out 6. Benji Waite allowed 5-hits and an unearned run in his 6-innings of work. He walked 3 and struck out 3.

Vinny Nittoli came on in the seventh for St. Paul and tossed a scoreless inning, as did Dylan Thompson for Sioux Falls.

However, in the top of the eighth the Sioux Falls Canaries would take the lead for good. Marr and Jabari Henry each received base on balls to start the inning. That brought Ty Morrison to the plate, who lined a single into center field that scored Marr. A double play would bring home Henry and the Canaries led by two.

They extended that lead in the top of the ninth. Trey Vavra started the inning by reaching on an infield single. Gretz followed with a base hit to right field that moved Vavra into third and he scored on a fielder’s choice by Motl to make it 4-1.

In the bottom of the ninth, José Ortega relieved for Sioux Falls and retired the side in order for his eighth save the season. Dylan Thompson (2-1) earn the victory with two scoreless innings of relief.

Ty Morrison finished the evening 2-4 with an RBI. Brett Marr was 2-4 with a run and an RBI. The Saints offense was led by Jack Goihl who was 2-4 with a run scored. Mitch Delfino was 2-4 with an RBI.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier