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AA St. Paul Saints

Bullpen Dominant, Saints Capitalize on Five Errors, Win 7-2

June 2, 2012 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


NEWARK, NJ (June 2, 2012) - Danny Gutierrez was making his first start since opening day, after injuring himself, and was on a strict pitch count. That meant the bullpen was going to have to come through and they did exactly that throwing six shutout innings as the offense capitalized on five Newark Bears errors and the Saints won 7-2 on Saturday night at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Ballpark.

Gutierrez looked sharp in the first two innings. After giving up two hits with one out in the second he got an inning ending double play. He wasn't as fortunate in the third as he gave up a double with one out to Billy Alvino, walked Alex Bardeguez and an RBI single to Juan Martinez cut the Saints lead to 2-1. With two outs Burt Reynolds would single to left tying the game at two. Gutierrez went 3.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out one while throwing 54 pitches.

Gutierrez' bullpen did the rest. Josh Cephas did the heavy lifting in innings four through six, not allowing a run on one hit while walking four and striking out two in picking up his first win of the season. Billy Spottiswood took his turn pitching two perfect innings of relief while striking out two. Reid Mahon was the anchor and worked a perfect ninth striking out one. In all the bullpen worked six scoreless allowing one hit while walking four and striking out five.

The offense capitalized on five errors with four coming from third baseman Reynolds. In the second Benji Johnson reached on a Reynolds error and Jon Townsend followed by drilling a two-run homer, his second of the season, putting the Saints up 2-0.

With the game tied at two in the fifth Jose Hernandez extended his hitting streak to 10 with a one out single. Ole Sheldon followed with a walk and Tanner Townsend drove in a run with a double to make it 3-2. A wild pitch scored Sheldon to make it 4-2.

The Saints tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth when Hernandez led off with a walk, Sheldon singled to left and Tanner Townsend drove in his second run of the game with a single to make it 5-2. Tanner finished the game 2-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. With two outs back-to-back errors by Reynolds at third enabled the Saints to score a pair of runs.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. eastern, 12:05 p.m. central. The Saints send RHP Alberto Rolon (1-0, 8.74) to the mound against Bears RHP Mike Ness (1-0, 2.25). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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