AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Can't Overcome Early Deficit, Lose 11-6 to Canaries

Published on June 19, 2019 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, SD - The St. Paul Saints pitching staff hadn't given up more than 14 total runs in any of their first nine series. In the first two games of their series against the top hitting team in the league, the Sioux Falls Canaries, the Saints have given up 22 runs. On Tuesday night the Saints lost 11-6 to the Canaries at Sioux Falls Stadium. The loss drops the Saints to 20-10 on the season.

Mason McMahon, out of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, made his professional debut and it was one he would like to forget. The very first batter he faced, Mike Hart, drilled a solo homer over the left field wall, his sixth of the season and third of the series, giving the Canaries a 1-0 lead. McMahon then walked Mitch Glasser and, with one out, Adrian Nieto singled him to third. A sacrifice fly from Trae Santos made it 2-0 Canaries. A walk to Clint Coulter was followed by an RBI double from Jordan Ebert, giving the Canaries a 3-0 lead.

It got worse in the third as the Canaries sent 10 men to the plate and it started with a leadoff walk to Santos. Clint Coulter singled and Andrew Ely singled with one out to load the bases. Graham Low's RBI single made it 4-0. Hart walked with the bases loaded making it 5-0. A wild pitch by McMahon scored Ely making it 6-0. McMahon walked Glasser and Kevin Taylor, the latter forcing in a run, increasing the lead to 7-0. An RBI groundout by Nieto made it 8-0. McMahon went 3.0 innings allowing eight runs on seven hits, walking a franchise tying high eight, and striking out one.

The Saints tried to mount a comeback in the middle three innings as Jeremy Martinez led off the fourth with a single. With one out Josh Allen doubled him to third. With two outs Joey Wong's two-run double cut the deficit to 8-2.

In the fifth, Dan Motl led off with a triple and Brady Shoemaker walked. Caden Skinner, who entered the game in the third after Burt Reynolds crashed into the wall in the first inning, was robbed of a hit on a nice diving play by second baseman Jordan Ebert who forced Shoemaker at second as Motl scored making it 8-3. Back-to-back singles by Martinez and Devon Rodriguez loaded the bases. The Canaries brought in reliever Sam Bragg, who the Saints scored thee runs against on Monday, got Allen to hit a tapper in front of the plate that Low fielded and tagged Skinner out at the plate. Chesny Young grounded out to short to end the inning.

In the sixth the Saints made it 8-4 when Wong doubled and Murphy singled him to third. Motl's sacrifice fly scored Wong.

Saints pitcher Tom Curtin did a magnificent job in the middle three innings. Three days after making his pro debut in a start against the Gary SouthShore RailCats, he came out of the bullpen and pitched 3.0 scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out two keeping the Saints in the game.

In the seventh, however, the Canaries put the nail in the coffin against Ken Frosch. Ely led off with a single and, with one out, Hart reached on an infield single to short. Glasser then drilled a three-run homer to left, his first of the season, making it 11-4.

The Saints added two in the eighth when Murphy led off with a double and Motl singled him home. Motl finished the night 3-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. With one out Skinner singled to center and a fielding error by the centerfielder, Brett Vertigan, allowed the runners to move up to second and third. Martinez' sacrifice fly got the Saints to within five, but they would get no closer. Martinez set a career high with four hits going 4-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

The same two teams meet in game three of the four game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Jake Matthys (3-1, 4.50) to the mound against Canaries RHP Taylor Hill (4-1, 2.78). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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American Association Stories from June 19, 2019


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