The St. Paul Saints and the Fargo Moorhead Redhawks played game two of their three game series on Saturday night in St. Paul after the Saints won game one 4-2 on Friday night.
The Saints wasted no time getting a scoring chance, as Alonzo Harris and Willie Argo both led off with base hits. After Vinny Difazio and Ian Gac struck out, Harris stole third base, with Argo taking second on a error by the shortstop Zach Penprase. The Saints would get no runs, however as Angelo Songco ended the inning with a deep flyball to center field.
Jeff Shields and Tyler Herron would proceed to fall into a pitcher's duel, as they both put zeroes up on the scoreboard. The Saints had a minor chance in the third when Willie Argo drew a two out walk, but Vinny Difazio struck out to end the inning.
The Saints got another base runner in the fourth when Ian Gac led off the inning with a single to left field. After Angelo Songco flew out and Mike Kvasnicka struck out, Ronnie Bourquin drew a two out walk to put two on base for Anthony Phillips, who broke the tie with a three run home run to left field. Dan Kaczrowski then followed that up with his own home run to left to give the Saints a 4-0 lead.
Fargo finally broke through in the sixth inning when Anthony Renz drew a leadoff walk. Frank Solerno and Drew Muren then followed that up with back to back base hits to load the bases. Renz would then score when Zach Penprase reached on a fielder's choice. Solerno would then score when Chad Mozingo also hit into a fielder's choice. That would cut the lead to 4-2.
Fargo was not done there, as Joe Bonfe would single to left field to score Drew Muren to make it a one run Saints lead. The Redhawks would tie the game when Joe Staley singled to center field. The inning would end on that same play as Bonfe would be thrown out trying to get an extra base. When it was all said and done, the score was tied at 4.
The Saints would respond in the bottom of the inning when Mike Kvasnicka led off the inning with a single. He would come around to score when Dan Kaczrowski hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Saints the lead.
The Saints would go to the bullpen for the seventh inning, as Chris Peacock would come in to throw for the Saints. He would strike out Frazier Hall, and walk Anthony Renz, before getting Solerno to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Fargo would also go to their bullpen in the seventh, as Herron gave up a leadoff single to Willie Argo before being pulled in favor of Tyler Thompson. He would give up two straight singles to load the bases with no outs as Angelo Songco stepped up to the plate. He would pop out softly to the shortstop for the first out of the inning.
Mike Kvasnicka would then draw a walk that forced Argo in to score to give the Saints a 6-4 lead. That would force Fargo to bring in another reliever, this time it was Jonathan Chudy getting the call. He retired Ronnie Bourquin before being pulled for Mike Notewate, who got Anthony Phillips to pop out to first base to end the inning with only one run scoring.
Fargo would take their first lead of the night in the eighth inning when Penprase led off with a walk. Chad Mizingo followed that up with a double to right, which set up Joe Bonfe to hit a three run home run to left field to give the Redhawks a 7-6 lead.
The Saints would tie the game in the bottom of the eight when Willie Argo hit a solo home run to left field. That would tie the game at seven going to the ninth inning.
Nobody would score in the ninth inning, which would send the game into extra innings. In their half of the tenth Fargo would be retired in order. The Saints would fare no better, which brought the International Tie Breaker rule into play.
Fargo took the lead in the eleventh when Joe Dunigan singled home Bonfe on a play where Difazio made the tag, but the umpire called him safe. Saints manager George Tsamis argued the call, and was promptly tossed out of the game.
The Saints were unable to score in their half of the eleventh, despite Vinny Difazio getting hit by a pitch, and Fargo went on to claim a 8-7 victory. The Saints are now 2-3 in games that go to the international tiebreaker rule.
The two teams will finish their series on Sunday afternoon at 5:05 PM. The Saints will send LHP Pedro Hernandez to the mound. Fargo will counter with LHP Tyler Alexander.