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Saints Rally for Three in Ninth for 5-4 Walk-Off Win in Exhibition Game

May 15, 2017 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SAINTS RALLY FOR THREE IN NINTH FOR 5-4 WALK-OFF WIN IN EXHIBTION GAME

ST. PAUL, MN - The hometown fans had their first chance to watch the 2017 St. Paul Saints. They were treated to a fantastic ending as the Saints plated three in the bottom of the ninth, including a walk-off two-run double by Jon Kristoffersen, that gave the Saints a 5-4 win in front of 5,717.

With the Saints trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth, and having left 10 men on base up to that point, pinch hitter Brady Burzynski led off with a single to left. Tanner Vavra worked a walk to put runners at first and second. With one out Brady Shoemaker drilled a long single off the top of the right field wall plating Burzynski, to make it 4-3, and sending Vavra to third. Shoemaker finished the night 4-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Kristoffersen, who entered the game in the eighth and singled, doubled the opposite way scoring Vavra from third and sending the winning run, Shoemaker, home from first for the walk-off victory.

The RedHawks did most of their damage in the third against Saints starter John Straka. Josh Mazzola led off with a double into the left field corner. With one out Jesus Posso dropped an RBI single into left giving the RedHawks a 1-0 lead. With two outs Charlie Valerio looped a single to right moving Posso to third. The RedHawks took a 2-0 lead on an infield single by Yhoxian Medina. Derrick Fox finished the scoring in the third with an RBI single to make it 3-0.

The RedHawks added a run in the fifth when Fox walked, stole second and scored on a two base error by center fielder Breland Almadova when a fly ball hit off the top of his glove. Straka went 5.0 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits while walking one and striking out four.

The Saints bullpen did another terrific job with Caleb Thielbar pitching a scoreless sixth, Seth Rosin striking out two in a scoreless seventh and Connor Little fanning two in 2.0 shutout innings.

The Saints got on the board in the fifth when Tim Colwell led off with a triple and scored on a one out single by Vavra to make it 4-1.

In the eighth Shoemaker hit a solo homer to get the Saints to within 4-2.

The same two teams meet Tuesday morning at 11:30 a.m. in the final exhibition game before the Saints open the season Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. at CHS Field against the Gary SouthShore Railcats.

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