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AA St. Paul Saints

Offense Continues to Impress with 8-4 Win over Lemurs

May 29, 2015 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


LAREDO, TX - Through the first week of the season the St. Paul Saints are lapping the field when it comes to scoring runs. Averaging eight runs a game, they hit that mark on Friday night at Uni-Trade Stadium in an 8-4 win over the Laredo Lemurs.

The scoring started right away in the first when Alonzo Harris led off the game with a single. With two on and two outs Mike Kvasnicka doubled home a pair to give the Saints a 2-0 lead. He finished the night 3-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.

In the second the Saints scored three more to take a 5-0 lead. Joey Paciorek led off by being hit by a pitch. Steve Nikorak sacrificed him to second and Anthony Phillips infield single to third advanced Paciorek to third. Harris then laid down a perfect bunt for a single that scored Paciorek to make it 3-0. After Sam Maus walked to load the bases, two batters later Ian Gac did it again with a two-run single. Gac finished the night 2-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored and now has 15 RBI in eight games.

The Lemurs came back in the third when A.J. Kirby Jones walked and Luke Bailey hit a two-run homer, his third of the season, to make it 5-2.

In the fourth the Lemurs cut the Saints lead to two. Abel Nieves led off with a double, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a ground out by Denis Phipps to make it 5-3.

Good teams find a way to answer and the Saints did just that in the fifth when they scored a run without a hit. Three walks loaded the bases and Phillips was hit by a pitch to force in a run and make it 6-3 Saints.

The Saints hit their average of eight runs in the ninth when Gac led off with a double and moved to third on Kvasnicka's single. Angelo Songco made it 7-3 with an RBI single and three batters later Phillips RBI single made it 8-3.

Saints starter Jeff Shields was solid going 6.0 innings allowing three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out one. His big moment came in the sixth when he got Bailey to ground out to second with the bases loaded and two outs and the Saints leading by three.

Drew Gay pitched 2.1 solid innings of relief allowing a run on three hits and Ryan Rodebaugh earned his first save by striking out two in the ninth.

The same two teams meet in the second game of the three game series on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Saints send RHP Robert Coe (0-0, 3.37) to the mound against Lemurs RHP Scott Garner (1-0, 0.00). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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