AA St. Paul Saints

Down Eight, Saints Storm Back Late to Win 13-11

Published on July 14, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX CITY, IA (July 14, 2011) - The night looked like it would belong to Sioux City Explorers catcher Ray Serrano, who homered twice and drove in eight, but the St. Paul Saints, who trailed 10-2 after four innings, came storming back and scored 11 unanswered runs to defeat the Explorers 13-11 on Thursday night at Lewis and Clark Park.

Serrano provided most of the offense slugging a three-run homer in the first and a grand slam in the fourth. The grand slam capped off a five run inning and gave the Explorers a 10-2 lead. The Explorers roughed up Saints starter Donald Brandt for 10 runs (four earned) in 5.0 innings on seven hits while walking five and striking out seven.

The Saints, however, began to chip away in the fifth. Ole Sheldon walked with one out and Jason Cooper singled to right-center. Brandon Tripp scored them both with a two-run triple to make it 10-4. Richard Mercado's groundout scored Tripp to make it 10-5.

The Saints offense wasn't done putting up crooked numbers as they did it again in the sixth. Once again it started with a walk when Alex Garabedian led off the inning with the free pass. With two outs Ronnie Bourquin walked and Ole Sheldon followed with an RBI single to make it 10-6. Sheldon finished the night 2-3 with a homer, three RBI and a Saints record tying high four runs scored. Cooper walked to load the bases and Tripp singled home two more to make it 10-8. Tripp finished the night 2-5 with four RBI and a run scored.

The comeback was completed in the seventh inning when Jonathan Van Every led off with a solo homer to right-center, his 14th of the season, to make it 10-9. Garabedian then singled and with two outs Bourquin singled him to second. Perhaps the biggest play of the night came next when Sheldon popped the ball up on the infield, but third baseman Wally Bachman Jr. couldn't find it and by the time shortstop Ryan Priddy got over he tried to make a basket catch, but the ball popped in and out of his glove allowing Sheldon to reach on the error and Garabedian to score the tying run. Cooper then crushed one over the right field wall, his eighth of the season, a three-run homer to put the finishing touches on the comeback and give the Saints a 13-10 lead.

The Saints bullpen did a great job as the University of St. Thomas graduate, Kris Edwards, pitched a perfect sixth inning of relief to earn his first professional victory in only his second appearance. Kyle Foster pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and it was left up to closer Robert Manuel in the ninth.

Kent Sakamoto led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Serrano's sacrifice fly. With two outs TJ Bohn singled and that brought the tying run to the plate in former Saint Priddy. Manuel, however, struck him out to end the game.

The only bad news on the night was outfielder Brent Krause left the game after three innings appearing to injure himself sliding into home on a plate at the plate. Every Saint, with the exception of Krause, collected a hit.

Game two of the four game series is Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Park. The Saints are TBA and the Explorers send RHP Ty Marotz (4-2, 4.75) to the mound. The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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