AA St. Paul Saints

Another Come from Behind Win, Saints Tied for First After 6-4 11 Inning Victory

Published on July 31, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


WINNIPEG, MB (July 31, 2011) - Who's ready for the final month of the season' If the last three days at Shaw Park are any indication, the final month of the season will be heart pounding, gut wrenching and edge of your seat baseball. It was all that and then some on Sunday afternoon as the St. Paul Saints came from a 4-0 first inning deficit to defeat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 6-4 in 11 and are now tied for first place.

A number of guys stepped up on Sunday afternoon including starter Donald Brandt. After a tough first inning where Brandt allowed four runs on five hits and threw 41 pitches, he was flawless over the next six innings throwing 76 pitches and allowing three hits and not allowing another run as he kept his team in the game. He would go 7.0 innings allowing four runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out five. In that first he gave up a sacrifice fly to Wes Long, followed by an RBI single from Brian Myrow. With two outs Luis Alen hit his second homer of the season, giving the Goldeyes a 4-0 lead.

It looked like it would be enough for Goldeyes starter Ace Walker, who was attempting to become the winningest pitcher in franchise history. The Saints finally broke through in the fifth as they loaded the bases with nobody out. Jason Cooper and Argelis Nunez hit back-to-back singles and Ronnie Bourquin walked. Jonathan Van Every hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1, but that was all the Saints would get.

In the seventh the Saints came through with a huge hit. Alex Garabedian led off with a single and then Justin Snyder hit a grounder to the left of second baseman Price Kendall, who fielded it, spun and threw to second, but pulled the shortstop Wes Long off the bag. Reliever Aaron Hartsock took over and got Adam Frost and Shane Costa to fly out, but power-hitting Ole Sheldon stepped to the plate. Hartsock, who hadn't given up a homer all season, left one over the plate that Sheldon deposited over the left-field wall, his eighth of the season, tying the game at four.

Saints reliever Caleb Thielbar was spectacular in his 3.0 innings of relief allowing just one hit while striking out five. He increased his consecutive innings scoreless streak to 21.2 innings, longer than Foster's 20.0 innings in 2008 and Matt Meyer's 21.1 innings last year. It is believed to be the longest streak in Saints history.

In the 11th the Saints took their first lead of the game when Sheldon roped a two out double to straightaway center. Cooper was intentionally walked and then Nunez came through with a seeing eye single, just past the glove of second baseman Kendall that allowed Sheldon to score. Kody Kaiser's throw to third got away from Myrow and allowed Cooper to score.

In the bottom of the 11th Foster nailed down the save and extended his scoreless streak to 14.2 innings pitched.

The Saints now head to Sioux Falls Stadium for a three game series beginning Monday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Sioux Falls Stadium. The Saints send LHP Edwin Walker (3-4, 4.48). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from July 31, 2011


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