AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Bounce Back for Big Win, 4-2 Over Goldeyes

Published on July 30, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


WINNIPEG, MB - For the second consecutive night the St. Paul Saints and Winnipeg Goldeyes played a game with a playoff style atmosphere, but this time the Saints were able to do enough and defeat the Goldeyes 4-2 to get to within a game of first place on Saturday night at Shaw Park.

As was the case Friday night, the Saints jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the third when Adam Frost tripled and two batters later Ole Sheldon drove him home with a single.

In the fifth, however, the Goldeyes answered back with one of the more bizarre plays of the night. The Goldeyes loaded the bases with a Louis Ott walk, a Justin Justice single and Price Kendall infield bunt single. Kody Kaiser then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Ott to tie the game. Justice also tagged and went to third and Kendall went to second. That's when the quirkiness ensued. Saints starter Alberto Rolon went to appeal the tag up of Kendall at first. He jumped on the mound, stepped off and lobbed a throw to first that went over the head of Cooper and allowed Justice to score from third and give the Goldeyes a 2-1 lead. To rub salt in the wound, the appeal proved worthless as the umpire said Kendall didn't leave too early.

The Saints answered in the very next inning as Sheldon led off with a double. With two outs the Goldeyes brought in their tough lefty Ian Thomas who hadn't given up an earned run to the Saints in 13.1 innings pitched this season. Left-hand hitting Ronnie Bourquin lined a single to center scoring Sheldon and tying the game at two. After a walk to Richard Mercado put runners at first and second, Jonathan Van Every lined an RBI single to right scoring Bourquin and Justice's throw to the plate went to the backstop which also allowed Mercado to score and give the Saints a two run lead.

The Saints bullpen came up big down the stretch. In the bottom of the seventh Rolon left the game with runners at first and second and one out for left-hander Caleb Thielbar. He walked Brian Myrow to load the bases, but struck out Jon Weber to end the inning. Rolon went 6.2 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking five and striking out four.

Kyle Foster got into trouble in the bottom of the eighth with two outs. With one out he gave up back-to-back singles to Justin Bass and Ott and then with two outs gave up an infield single to Price Kendall. Foster, however, struck out Kaiser to end the inning.

The same two teams meet in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Shaw Park at 1:30 p.m. The Saints send LHP Donald Brandt (7-2, 3.84) to the mound against Goldeyes RHP Ace Walker (8-3, 3.61). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from July 30, 2011


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