ST PAUL, Minn. -- What was supposed to be an early-afternoon game turned into an early-evening game on Wednesday afternoon as the St. Paul Saints took on the Sioux Falls Explorers in the final game of a three-game series.
Rain delays the start of the game
The game got started over two hours late due to rain moving through the area, but when they did start, the Saints sent John Straka to the mound. He worked a perfect first inning, while his counterpart, Graham Johnson, did the same thing. Both pitchers gave up a hit in the second inning, but neither team was able to score.
Straka worked another clean inning in the third, but while the Saints were batting in the bottom of the inning, the skies opened up again, sending the game into another delay.
This one lasted an hour and 20 minutes, forcing both managers to turn to their bullpens. The Explorers brought in Bubba Maxwell, who inherited a 0-1 count to Sam Maus. Maxwell was able to get out of the inning without any issues.
In the fourth, the Saints turned to former Major Leaguer Caleb Thielbar, who worked a clean inning. After that, both teams fell into a rhythm where they exchanged scoreless innings, although the Saints scattered a few hits.
The Saints had a good scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth inning when Alonzo Harris led off with a single to center field. He advanced to second when Brady Burzynski walked, and advanced to third when Angelo Songco flew out to right field. Harris was unable to score, however, as Trever Adams struck out to end the inning with the go-ahead run on third base.
Saints score game's only run in the 7th
The Saints got one run in the seventh inning when Tanner Vavra reached on a one-out error by the first baseman, which drew an argument from Sioux City manager Steve Montgomery, who was promptly ejected by home plate umpire Kurt Branin.
Once the game resumed, Aaron Gretz reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Vavra retired, but the next batter was Maus who doubled to the left field corner, allowing Gretz to score and giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.
Neither team scored in the eighth inning, which led to the Saints turning to their closer, Ryan Rodebaugh, to finish the game. He worked a perfect ninth inning to give the Saints their 44th win of the season.
Quick Hits
- Songco went 0-4 to snap his five-game hitting streak that he had going. Breland Almadova now has the longest active streak at five games.
- Harris was back in the lineup on Wednesday after missing a few games after being hit in the elbow by a pitch on Sunday night. He went 1-4 in his return and made a few plays in center field.