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St. Paul Saints

Victory Slips Through Saints Fingertips in 6-4 Loss to T-Bones

May 28, 2016 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints had victory in their grasp, but let it get away. A costly error followed by a two-run home run turned a 4-2 lead into a 6-4 loss to the Kansas City T-Bones on Saturday night at CHS Field in front of 7,220.

With the Saints up by two in the ninth and closer Ryan Rodebaugh on to try and earn his second save in as many nights, he recorded the first out of the inning on a groundout. He then walked Brett Wiley and gave up a single to Vladimir Frias. Jake Blackwood hit one on the button, but left fielder Willie Argo made a jumping catch for the second out of the inning. That's when disaster struck. Anthony Gallas hit a fly ball to right-center field that rightfielder Breland Almadova moved over to catch, but the ball glanced off his glove and fell to the grass as both runs scored to tie the game. The next batter, Tyler Massey, blasted a two-run homer to right, his second of the season, that proved to be the difference.

The Saints brand new acquisition, right-handed pitcher Cody Scarpetta, made one lone mistake and that came in the fourth when Cole Leonida hit a solo homer to right-center, his second of the season, to make it 1-0 T-Bones. Scarpetta went 5.0 innings allowing one run on three this while walking three and striking out five.

The Saints got Scarpetta two runs in the fifth as Tanner Vavra led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. Aaron Gretz recorded his first professional RBI with a bloop single to shallow right to tie the game at one. With two outs Almadova singled and Nate Hanson doubled home Gretz to make it 2-1.

The T-Bones tied it in the sixth when Gallas reached on an error by shortstop Tony Thomas. He advanced to third on a single by Massey as Massey was thrown out trying to go to second. Cole Leonida's blooper landed between three players down the line in right tied the game at two.

The Saints answered immediately in the bottom of the inning when Argo led off with a double. With one out Sam Maus was hit by a pitch and Gretz singled to load the bases. A groundout by Alonzo Harris plated a run to give the Saints a 3-2 lead.

In the eighth the Saints appeared to get a big insurance run on a sac fly by Hanson, but the one extra run wasn't enough.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the four game series Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send RHP Mark Hamburger (2-0, 2.45) to the mound against T-Bones RHP Casey Barnes (1-0, 3.75). It is one last Purple Game featuring the music of Prince. Following the game is a Monster Food Truck Rally with more than 10 food trucks scheduled to appear. Following the Food Truck Rally is a Purple SPIREworks Super Show. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in the Twin Cities and heard on Club 1220 KLBB and in the ballpark on 97.9 FM.

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