AA St. Paul Saints

Ole Sheldon Dah-Man in 6-5 Walk off Win

Published on July 26, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST PAUL, MN (July 26, 2011) - The St. Paul Saints offense was at full strength for the first time in over a month and it helped in a dramatic come from behind, 6-5 walk off victory on Tuesday night at Midway Stadium in front of 4,984.

The Saints, who put up three runs in the ninth inning on Monday, but left the tying run in scoring position, made sure they didn't do the same thing on Tuesday evening. With the Saints down 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth Argelis Nunez led off with a single off of reliever Kyle Dahman. Ronnie Bourquin followed with a walk to put runners at first and second. Richard Mercado dropped down a bunt, but put it too close to Dahman who threw out Nunez at third. Donald Blunt pinch ran for Mercado as he represented the tying run. Jonathan Van Every doubled down the right field line scoring Bourquin to make it 5-4. After an intentional walk to Justin Snyder loaded the bases Adam Frost struck out. Shane Costa, who returned from the 30-day inactive list, walked on four pitches to force in the tying run. That brought Ole Sheldon to the plate and on a 1-1 pitched he singled up the middle scoring Van Every for the game winner.

The Saints got a great relief outing from both Caleb Thielbar and Kyle Foster. Thielbar entered the ballgame with the bases loaded and nobody out in the sixth and the Saints down 4-1. Thielbar got one out on runner's interference, gave up a sacrifice fly to Rico Washington, to make it 5-1, and then struck out Ray Sadler to end the inning. Thielbar would throw a scoreless seventh and eighth and went 3.0 innings allowing two hits while striking out three and has not allowed a run in his last 18.1 innings pitched. Foster threw a perfect top of the ninth striking out two and lowered his ERA to 1.79.

With the Saints down 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth Mercado led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Van Every. Snyder's sacrifice fly made it 5-2 and three batters later Sheldon added a bases loaded ground out to make it 5-3 and set up the dramatics in the ninth.

By leaving the bases loaded in the ninth inning after the winning run scored the Saints left 16 men on base tying a franchise record done two other times in a nine inning game, the last time May 16, 2006 vs. St. Joseph.

The final game of the three game series is Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send LHP Edwin Walker (3-4, 4.50) to the mound against T-Bones LHP Kris Johnson (2-2, 3.54). The first 1,501 fans in attendance receive a 2011 Saints Team Card Set. The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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