AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Can't Hold Four Run Lead, Lose 5-4 to Saltdogs in Game One of Doubleheader

Published on June 20, 2018 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


LINCOLN, NE - When you play the second highest scoring team in the American Association no amount of runs is enough. The Saints scored four runs in the first two innings, but couldn't hold on as they lost to the Lincoln Saltdogs 5-4 at Haymarket Park in game one of the doubleheader.

Facing the second-best pitcher in the league, Mike Tamburino who had a 2.02 ERA, the Saints scored in the first when Kyle Barrett doubled and Max Murphy walked. Brady Shoemaker followed with an RBI single to make it 1-0.

In the second the Saints were the recipients of two costly Saltdogs errors. JJ Gould led off with a pop up into shallow right that second baseman Cesar Valera backpedaled on, but the ball went in and out of his glove allowing Gould to reach second on a two-base error. Jake Smith then roped an RBI double to left making it 2-0. With one out Kes Carter's fly ball to left was dropped by Brandon Jacobs, who appeared to have trouble with the sun. The error scored Smith and allowed Carter to take second. Barrett made it 4-0 with an RBI single.

The lead didn't hold up as the Saltdogs got one back in the bottom of the second. With one out knuckle ball pitcher Dan Johnson walked Chase Simpson. Angel Reyes hit a fly ball to right that Murphy appeared to misplay as the ball went over his head for a single and sending Simpson to third. An RBI groundout by Nathaniel Maggio made it 4-1.

In the third, the Saltdogs tied it up as they started the inning with three straight singles from Dashenko Ricardo, Christian Ibarra, and Valera, the latter plating a run to make it 4-2. With one out Curt Smith singled to right loading the bases. A sacrifice fly by Simpson made it 4-3. Johnson's day was done and he made way for Jake Matthys, but he gave up an RBI single to Reyes tying the game at four.

In the fourth the Saltdogs took the lead for good when Randolph Oduber led off with a single to center. He stole second and went to third on a single by Ricardo. With one out Valera hit a grounder to Gould at third, who thought about going home, but instead went to first to get the out allowing the eventual winning run to score.

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American Association Stories from June 20, 2018


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