AA St. Paul Saints

Krause's Bat, Arm Propel Saints to 5-4 Victory Over Wingnuts

Published on May 21, 2010 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


WICHITA, KS - The American Association has been on notice for four seasons now: You don't run on Brent Krause's arm. On Friday night Krause drove in three, including a two-run homer, but it was his throw to the plate that ended the eighth that saved the game as the Saints went on to defeat the Wichita Wingnuts 5-4 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

With the Saints hanging on to a one run lead in the bottom of the eighth Patrick Brooks led off with a single against Saints reliever Jake Schmidt. After Angel Nicholas struck out, lefty Payton Tweddale came out of the bullpen to face the left-hand hitting Eric Williams. Tweddale got Williams on strikes and that prompted another move by Saints manager George Tsamis as he brought in the righty John Plefka. He gave up a single to Ryan Patterson, which put runners at first and second. Mario Delgado then singled to right and as Brooks rounded third Krause came up throwing. He threw a strike to the plate and Gerard Haran swiped the tag as Brooks tried to slide around it. Brooks was tossed for arguing the call as was pitching coach Luke Robertson.

The Saints trailed 2-0 heading into the fourth, but that's when Krause came through with the power. After Jason Cooper singled, Krause clubbed a two-run shot to left, his second of the season. With two outs Hector Estrella singled off the glove of pitcher Luke Massetti. He advanced to second on a passed ball. Steve Butler gave the Saints a 3-2 lead with a single to right and advanced to second on the throw home. Steve Mays knocked home Butler with a single to left. Butler finished the night 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Mays went 2-4 with an RBI.

The Wingnuts answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-3, but the Saints regained their two run lead in the fifth courtesy of Krause again. Cooper doubled with two outs and Krause singled him home to make it 5-3.

The Wingnuts once again answered back in the fifth when Chris Colton walked with two outs, stole second and scored on a throwing error by Butler on a grounder by Jeff Christy.

The Saints bullpen was once again tremendous as Schmidt went 2.1 innings of shutout baseball allowing two hits and striking out five. Tweddale, Plefka and Hunter Davis also gave up nothing as Davis earned his second save of the season with a perfect ninth.

The same two teams meet in game two of the four game series on Saturday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send LHP Ryan Morse (0-0, 3.00) against Wingnuts RHP Brandon Mathes (NR). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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