Blasters Fizzle on Fourth, Fall to Saints
July 5, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
In front of a sold out crowd of 9,973 at CHS Field, the Joplin Blasters fell victim to the explosive offense of the Saint Paul Saints on Monday night. The Saints scored nine unanswered runs on Independence Day, and dealt the Blasters an eighth consecutive defeat, 9-2. The 9,973 in attendance included international recording artist Adele, who was in the Twin Cities for an upcoming concert.
It was the Blasters that fired the first shot of the ballgame, taking the lead in the top of the second. Willie Cabrera and Charlie Valerio both singled to lead off the frame. Geraldo Valentin followed with a grounder to second that was misplayed, which allowed Cabrera to score the opening run of the contest. A flyout and a double play ball stranded Valerio on third.
A two-out hit gave St. Paul the lead for good in the bottom of the third. Starter Noel Arguelles got two outs in the frame, but walks to Breland Almadova and Nate Hanson put two runners on. Angelo Songco drove both runners in on a single down the right field line, but was thrown out at second base.
The game's biggest hit came in the bottom of the fourth. Willie Argo and Tony Caldwell hit one-out singles, which brought Arguelles' day to an end. Jose Ortega got Chad Christensen to fly out on the first pitch, but then walked Maxx Garrett to load the bases. Harris then broke the game open with one swing, hitting a grand slam over the left field wall. Harris' tenth home run increased the Saints' lead to 6-1.
St. Paul scored again in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a leadoff walk to Hanson. Songco walked and Tony Thomas was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with no outs. Argo drove in the Saints' seventh run on a sacrifice fly, but relief pitcher Carlos Fuentes was able to retire the next two hitters to leave runners on second and third.
The Saints' half of the scoring ended in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs. Almadova doubled in Garrett, who had reached on a single. Hanson drove in the final run on St. Paul's second sacrifice fly of the game, a fly ball that scored Harris for the second time.
Edwin Gomez supplied Joplin's second and final run of the contest. Gomez, who went 3-for-4 with a double, clubbed his second homer of the season over CHS Field's right field wall. The longball accounted for the final margin of 9-2.
Mark Hamburger went the distance for the Saints, moving his record to 8-0 with a complete game victory. Arguelles was charged with the loss over 3.1 innings on the mound.
The Blasters will again take the field in St. Paul on Tuesday looking to break their losing streak. Alex De La Cruz will climb the mound for the second time, and will be facing Saints righty Robert Coe. The middle game of the series is set for 7:05 p.m. at CHS Field.
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- Blasters Fizzle on Fourth, Fall to Saints - Joplin Blasters
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