AA St. Paul Saints

No Power Outage as Saints Take Down RedHawks in Grand Fashion 4-3

June 26, 2014 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


FARGO, ND - Not even a power outage in the bottom of the ninth inning could prevent the St. Paul Saints from a series split against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. The Saints rode Henry Wrigley's third inning grand slam to a 4-3 victory at Newman Outdoor Field on Thursday Night.

In the third Sam Maus led off for the Saints with a single to center. He moved to second on a single from Devin Thaut. A walk to Jake Taylor loaded the bases. That brought up the hottest Saints hitter Evan Bigley. He hit a grounder to third and Ronnie Bourquin was able to force Maus at home. Wrigley stepped to the plate and crushed a change up over the left field wall for a grand slam, his ninth homer of the season, to give the Saints a 4-0 lead. For the first time in Saints franchise history they hit a grand slam in back-to-back games with Angelo Songco accomplishing the feat on Wednesday night. It was the third grand slam for the Saints this season. The franchise record is five done in 1996.

It stayed that way into the sixth, but only because of a fine defensive play by Joe Bonfe in left in the fourth inning. With one out Saints starter Cole Nelson walked Nic Jackson and Petey Paramore. Tim Alberts singled to left and Jackson tried to score, but Bonfe's throw nailed Jackson at the plate.

In the sixth the RedHawks sent nine men to the plate and got to within a run. Nelson walked the leadoff man in the inning, Sawyer Carroll. C.J. Retherford doubled him to third. A two-run single by Jackson made it 4-2. Nelson helped himself out by throwing over to first while Jackson was trying to steal and the Saints got him in a run down before tagging him out. Nelson faced one more batter and was lifted after giving up a single to Paramore. Jeff Shields came on in relief and gave up a single to Alberts. A wild pitch moved the runners up and a walk to Brandon Newton loaded the bases. Shields got Travis Higgs to pop out for the first out, but walked Zach Penprase to force in a run and make it 4-3. With the bases loaded and two outs Shields got Bourquin to fly out to end the inning. Shields went 2.2 shutout innings allowing one hit while walking two and striking out two.

Just as the bottom of the ninth was ready to start the power went out in the ballpark. After a 27 minute delay Saints closer Dan Sattler gave up a leadoff single to Higgs. On a strike out of Penprase, Higgs stole second. Sattler struck out Bourquin and then got Carroll to line out to right to end the game.

The Saints head to Sioux Falls Stadium to begin a three game series against the Sioux Falls Canaries on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Anthony Claggett (4-2, 1.54) against Canaries LHP Matt Wickswat (1-1, 3.23). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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