AA St. Paul Saints

Bullpen Brilliant as Saints Shoot Down AirHogs 5-4

Published on June 4, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, TX - All night long St. Paul Saints pitchers had runners in scoring position and all night long they made the right pitches as the Saints defeated the Grand Prairie AirHogs for the second straight night 5-4 at QuickTrip Park on Saturday evening.

The Saints faced runners in scoring position in seven of the nine innings including in the ninth. With the Saints up a run, closer Robert Manuel gave up a lead off double to John Alonso. After getting Tyler Henley to fly out, Jake Taylor walked to put runners at first and second with one out. Manuel, who pitched 1.2 innings on Friday night, tightened it up and struck out the final two batters to pick up his fifth save of the season.

The bullpen was solid all night long after starter Alain Quijano pitched 5.0 innings allowing four runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out one. Kyle Foster gave the team a shot in the arm going 2.2 innings of shutout baseball giving up one hit while walking one and striking out two. The other reliever on the night, Caleb Thielbar, faced one batter, but it was a big batter. With a man at first and two outs in the eighth he was asked to get the 2009 American Association Player of the Year, Greg Porter, and he struck him out to end the inning.

The Saints offense didn't have an easy task on Saturday evening facing former 2002 National League Rookie of the Year Jason Jennings. They jumped on him early putting up three in the first. With one out Justin Snyder lined a single off of Jennings' glove. Kevin Thompson walked and Jason Cooper singled to right to make it 1-0 Saints. The hit extended Cooper's hitting streak to 10. Brandon Tripp followed by extending his hitting streak to 13 with an RBI single to right to make it 2-0. Ronnie Bourquin's RBI single made it 3-0.

The AirHogs got one back in the bottom of the inning as David Espinosa led off with a walk, moved to second on an infield single from David Thomas and with one out Alonso knocked home a run with a single to make it 3-1.

With the score 3-2 in the fourth Richard Mercado blasted a solo shot to left, his second of the season, to make it 4-2.

With the Saints up 5-2 in the fifth the AirHogs made it a one run game. With two outs and a man at first Zane Chavez doubled home Taylor to make it 5-3. Guillermo Martinez followed with a bloop single to right to pull within one, but the Saints would walk the tight rope all night long and come out with the win.

The final game of the three game series is Sunday evening at 6:05 p.m. at QuickTrip Park. The Saints are TBA while the AirHogs will send RHP Josh Rainwater (4-0, 2.77) to the mound. The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from June 4, 2011


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