AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Gain Game in Wild Card with 5-4 Win

Published on August 20, 2010 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - With just 10 games left in the season the St. Paul Saints realize there is no room for error and they came through with a huge 5-4 victory over the team they are chasing in the wild card race, the Lincoln Saltdogs on Friday night at Midway Stadium. The Saints now trail the Saltdogs by 2.5 games for the wild card. If the Sioux Falls Pheasants, who lead the division by 0.5 game over the Wichita Wingnuts, win the second half the wild card would come into play. The Saints trail the Pheasants by 3.0 games for the second half division title.

The night didn't start out on a positive note as Gavin Dickey hit the first pitch of the game over the right field wall, his 17th of the season, to give the Saltdogs a 1-0 lead.

The Saints answered right back in the bottom of the first as Josh Alley led off with a walk and went to second on a single by the newest member of the Saints, Hector Bernal. With one out Jason Cooper doubled to left scoring Alley and sending Bernal to third tying the game at one. Brent Krause followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Saints a 2-1 lead.

Alley added to the lead in the third with a solo shot to right, his seventh of the season, to make it 3-1.

The Saltdogs, however, would tie it. In the fourth Albenis Machado reached on an infield single to pitcher Kyle Foster, who threw the ball away allowing Machado to take second. Pat Trettel singled Machado to third and center fielder Josh Burrus booted the ball allowing Machado to score to make it 3-2.

In the sixth Brandon Jones tied the game with a solo blast to left, his 16th of the season.

The Saints didn't waste any time answering in the bottom of the sixth with a big two out base hit. With one out Krause reached on a two base throwing error by third baseman Juan Richardson. Burrus was hit by a pitch and with two outs Brandon Carter ripped a two-run double to right making it 5-3.

The Saltdogs got one back in the eighth as Juan Camacho singled and scored on a one out double by Jones.

The Saints, who were put into a save situation for the first time since losing their closer Matt Meyer, brought in Joe D'Alessandro and he retired the side in order to pick up his second save of the season.

The same two teams meet in game two of the three games series Saturday night at Midway Stadium. The Saints send RHP Jake Schmidt (8-6, 5.31) to the mound against the newest member of the Saltdogs LHP Cody Walden (NR). It is Winter in the Summer presented by Welch Village Ski and Snowboard Resort. The game can be seen on KSTC-TV, Channel 45 and heard on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from August 20, 2010


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