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St. Paul Saints

Saints Can't Dig out of Early Hole, Lose 5-3 to AirHogs

July 21, 2013 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (July 21, 2013) - If the St. Paul Saints had any thoughts of throwing back-to-back shutouts against the Grand Prairie Airhogs, like they did a week ago at QuickTrip Park, the idea was squashed in the first inning. The Saints fell behind 3-0 early and lost 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Midway Stadium in front of 6,272.

Drew Gay made his third professional appearance, and second start, and gave up a one out single to Brandon Pinckney in the first inning. Ryan Pineda singled him to third and Andres Rodriguez' fielder's choice made it 1-0 AirHogs. Palmer Karr Jr. followed with a two-run bullet over the left field wall, his first of the season, to make it 3-0.

In the fourth Angel Flores hit a solo homer off of Gay, his fifth of the season, to make it 4-0. Gay lasted 4.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out one.

The Saints had trouble against AirHogs starter Josh Strawn. Over the first five innings they managed just one base runner before two were out. In the sixth Brad Boyer led off with a double. He finished the game 3-4 with a double and a run scored. He moved to third on a ground out and scored on a one out single by Ole Sheldon to make it 4-1.

In the seventh controversy ensued when Yasutsugu Nishimoto reached on a one out infield single. Nishimoto then stole second, the ball beat him by a decent amount as shortstop Trevor Hairgrove appeared to lay down the tag. Hairgrove started to throw the ball around the infield thinking the out was recorded, but the base umpire ruled the runner was safe. Saints manager George Tsamis came out and argued and was tossed out of the game. After the ejection Ryan Kiniry's infield single moved Nishimoto to third and a groundout by Pinckney scored the run to make it 5-1.

The Saints made it closer in the eighth when Brandon Tripp singled with two outs and Sheldon crushed a two-run homer to left, his fourth of the season, that brought the Saints to within two, but they would get no closer.

The Saints are off on Monday and begin a three-game series against the first place Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Newman Outdoor Field on Tuesday at 7:02 p.m. The Saints send RHP Anthony Claggett (6-2, 3.35) to the mound. The game can be heard on Club 1220 AM.

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