AA St. Paul Saints

Everything Bigger in Texas, Including Ninth Inning Comeback, Saints Score Six in Ninth for 11-6 Victory

Published on May 29, 2018 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, TX - The annual High School Tournament roadtrip looked like it was going to get off to a disappointing start. For the first time since 2015, the Saints came from behind when trailing after eight innings when they scored a season-high six runs in the ninth to take down the Texas AirHogs 11-6 on Monday night at AirHogs Stadium. All nine Saints collected a hit as the Saints pounded out a season-high 18 and improved to 7-3 on the season.

With the Saints trailing 6-5 in the ninth Richard Prigatano led off with a walk and Max Murphy singled to right, moving Prigatano to second. Brady Shoemaker tied it up with a single to right and Murphy went to third while Shoemaker went to second on the throw home. Shoemaker finished the night 4-5 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Jayce Boyd drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. After Noah Perio Jr. struck out, Dante Bichette Jr. came through with a two-run single to center giving the Saints an 8-6 lead. Kes Carter followed with a two-run double to left making it 10-6. After a groundout sent Carter to third, he would score on a wild pitch.

The Saints needed to comeback mostly because of one AirHog, Dillon Thomas. In the first after Saints starter Jake Esch walked the leadoff man Greg Golson and gave up a bunt single to Chu Fuija, Thomas doubled home two to give the AirHogs a 2-1 lead. Two batters later Stewart Ijames made it 3-1 with an RBI single.

In the second Thomas came calling again. With one out Lu Jianzeng walked and Golson singled. With two outs Thomas doubled home both to make it 5-1 AirHogs.

With the score 5-2 in the fourth Fujia walked and Thomas doubled him home to make it 6-2. Thomas went 3-4 with three doubles, five RBI and a run scored.

The Saints clawed back in the fifth when Shoemaker hit a solo homer to left, his first of the season, to make it 6-3. Boyd singled and Perio Jr. followed with a single to put runners at first and second. A double play groundout out by Bichette Jr., his second of the game, left Perio Jr. at second with two outs. Carter doubled home Perio Jr. and Justin O'Conner's RBI single made it 6-5.

The Saints bullpen was once again stellar as Ken Frosh tossed 2.2 scoreless innings allowing one hit and striking out three. Jake Matthys pitched a perfect inning of relief and struck out one while Tom Wilhelmsen pitched a perfect ninth.

The same two teams meet in game two of the four game series on Tuesday night at AirHogs Stadium. The Saints send RHP Matt Solter (1-0, 5.40) to the mound against AirHogs RHP Miguel Rosario (0-1, 27.00). The game can be heard on Alt 93.3 FM.

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American Association Stories from May 29, 2018


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