AA St. Paul Saints

Before Saints Fly Away on Longest Roadtrip They Take out Canaries 3-2

Published on May 25, 2014 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (May 25, 2014) - The most daunting part of the St. Paul Saints schedule is coming up as they get set to travel east for a 10 game roadtrip. They made sure to leave on the right foot coming from behind to defeat the Sioux Falls Canaries 3-2 on Sunday evening at Midway Stadium in front of 5,953.

Saints starter Anthony Claggett and Canaries starter Joe Bircher were locked in a great duel all evening long. The Saints struck first in the second inning when Willie Cabrera drilled one over the left field wall, his second of the season, to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.

It didn't take long for the Canaries to take the lead as they put up two in the third inning. Stephen Branca led off with a single and he moved to second on Steven Tinoco's single. Drew Muren laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Claggett was able to get Carlos Mendez to fly out to shallow center and the runners were forced to hold. Brandon Jones, however, singled back up the middle scoring both runs to give the Canaries a 2-1 lead.

Claggett did his best work in the fourth when the Canaries loaded the bases with one out. Chris Valencia and Shelby Ford reached on back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. With one out Branca singled to load the bases. Claggett, however, got Tinoco to ground into a double play to end the inning. Claggett lasted 6.2 innings allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five. He has now allowed three runs or less in 20 of his last 24 starts with the Saints dating back to last season.

While Claggett may not have earned the win his teammates made sure he didn't take the loss. In the seventh Angelo Songco led off with a single. Joey Becker followed with a walk and Dwight Childs sacrificed the two over. After Brandon Wikoff was intentionally walked, Bircher left the game in favor of reliever Josh Giles. Joe Bonfe hit a high chopper over Burch's head at first. Second baseman Valencia fielded the ball, but his throw to first went awry and allowed a second run to score which gave the Saints a one run lead. Bircher would be the tough luck loser going 6.1 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking two and striking out three.

The bullpen did the rest for the Saints as Mikey Mehlich tossed 1.1 perfect innings of relief and Dan Sattler shut it down in the ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season.

The Saints have Monday off and return to action on Tuesday evening against the Rockland Boulders at Provident Bank Ballpark at 6:00 p.m. central time. The Saints send RHP Robert Coe (2-0, 4.91) to the mound. The game can be heard on 87.9 FM.

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