AA St. Paul Saints

Imperfect 10, Saints Doubled-Up by RailCats on Opening Night in 10-5 Loss

Published on May 18, 2018 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


GARY, IN - The St. Paul Saints entered Opening Night of the 2018 season with the longest winning streak in the American Association for lid lifters. The last four seasons they began the year with victories, but that streak was snapped with a 10-5 loss to the Gary SouthShore Railcats at U.S. Steel Yard on Friday Night.

The Railcats jumped all over Saints starter Jake Esch and scored all their runs in the first three innings. In the first the Railcats struck first as Alex Crosby led off with a single to center and Randy Santiesteban followed with a walk. Mitch Glasser's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up and Colin Willis made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly.

The Saints took their lone lead of the night courtesy of their hitting star for the game, Kes Carter. Jayce Boyd led off with a single to center and Noah Perio Jr. walked. Dante Bichette Jr's single loaded the bases. With one out Carter lined a single up the middle giving the Saints a 2-1 lead, but with runners at second and third and one out, the Saints couldn't do any more damage.

The Railcats used that momentum to knock out Saints starter Esch in the second as they sent 12 men to the plate scoring seven runs. The first four hitters reached on two singles, an RBI double by Christoph Bono and a two-run double from Cole Fabio to make it 4-1. A sacrifice fly from Crosby made it 5-1. With two outs, and nobody on, Glasser was hit by a pitch and Willis singled. A fielding error by Bichette Jr. off the bat of Andy Paz allowed a run to score making it 6-1. Gimenez singled home a run to make it 7-1 and that chased Esch for the night. Reggie Wilson greeted reliever Ryan Schlosser with an RBI single making it 8-1. Esch went 1.2 innings allowing eight runs (five earned) on seven hits while walking one.

With the Saints down 10-2 in the fourth Kes Carter drilled a solo homer to right, his first of the year, making it 10-3. Carter finished the night 3-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored.

Justin O'Conner got the Saints to within five in the sixth with a two-run homer, his first of the year, but the Saints would get no closer.

The Saints bullpen did solid work with Schlosser setting a career high by going 3.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits. Ryan Boelter pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and Jake Matthys tossed a perfect inning of relief.

The same two teams meet in the second game of the three-game series at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The Saints send RHP Eddie Medina (NR) to the mound against Railcats LHP Alex Gunn (NR). The game can be heard on Alt 93.3 FM.

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American Association Stories from May 18, 2018


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