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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Fall Short to Saltdogs 6-5

June 18, 2014 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (June 18, 2014) - On a night when the St. Paul Saints got a little nostalgic and brought back their Purple Game promotion from 2008 to honor Prince, the Saints found out what it feels like "When Doves Cry" as they lost 6-5 to the Lincoln Saltdogs on Wednesday night at Midway Stadium in front of 3,825.

The Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead through three innings as Brandon Tripp hit a solo homer to left-center, his second of the season, in the second to make it 1-0. In the third Sam Maus led off with a single and moved to second on Devin Thaut's single. Joe Bonfe sacrificed the two runners over and Evan Bigley extended his hit streak to a Saints season high 10 games with a two-run double.

The Saltdogs mounted their comeback in the fifth plating two unearned runs. With one out Tyler Smith singled. Chad Mozingo's grounder to Angelo Songco at first could have been a double play, but his throw to second pulled Joey Becker off the bag and the return throw wasn't in time. Songco was charged with the throwing error at second. Two batters later Brian Joynt's two-run single made it 3-2.

In the sixth Saints starter Nick Barnese walked Mike Gilmartin and gave up an RBI double to Matt Forgatch that tied the game at three. R.J. Seidel came on in relief of Barnese, but he was greeted by an RBI single from Edie Young that gave the Saltdogs a 4-3 lead. Chris Anderson followed with an RBI single to make it 5-3. He would later score on a wild pitch which gave the Saltdogs a 6-3 lead.

The Saints got to within one in the seventh when Dwight Childs singled with one out. Maus doubled him to third and an RBI groundout by Thaut and an RBI single from Joe Bonfe got the Saints to within a run. They would get no closer as the final seven Saints were retired in the game.

Saints reliever Drew Gay was masterful in 3.0 innings of work not allowing a run on three hits while striking out four, including all three hitters looking in the seventh.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the four game series on Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Jeff Shields (3-1, 4.75) to the mound against Saltdogs RHP Zach Vance (1-2, 4.63). It is the Dollar Dance presented by TopLine Federal Credit Union. The first 1,935 fans in attendance will receive $1 to give to one of the 10 non-profits in attendance. The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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