AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Get Defensive in 3-2 Win over Gary

Published on June 12, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - For the second consecutive game the St. Paul Saints offense managed just four hits, but it was the play by their defense that helped propel them to a 3-2 victory on Sunday afternoon over the Gary SouthShore Railcats in front of 5,015.

The defensive highlights began in the eighth inning. With two outs and a man on first for the Railcats Mike Rhode hit a fly ball into foul territory in left field. Saints left fielder Jake Krause ran as hard as he could from his position in straight away left, crossed the foul line, left his feet and dove towards the warning track and made a spectacular catch to end the inning.

With the Saints clinging to a one run lead in the ninth Saints closer Robert Manuel hit the lead off batter in the inning, Craig Maddox. Mike Valadez pinch ran for Maddox and Brad Boyer, a .354 hitter, pinch hit for the number nine hitter Brian Kolb. He roped a double to right-center that landed in the gap. Saints right fielder Brandon Tripp ran it down fired to the relay man, second baseman Justin Snyder, who threw a perfect strike to catcher Richard Mercado and he tagged out Valadez for the first out of the inning as Boyer went to third. Adam Klein then hit a shallow fly to right for the second out and Tripp fired another strike to the plate keeping Boyer at third. Manuel then struck out Mike Massaro looking to end the game.

The afternoon started out as a pitchers duel that went scoreless through the first three innings and the Saints couldn't muster a hit in that time against Railcats starter Scott Shaw. The Railcats finally broke through against Matt Long in the fourth.

Chris Carrara led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Lorenzo Scott. Long then got Cristian Guerrero to line out to first. He intentionally walked Toodrick Johnson to load the bases. A strike out of Mike Rhode gave Long a chance to get out of the jam unscathed, but Maddox singled to right scoring two runs and giving the Railcats a 2-0 lead. It was the only blip on the day for Long who went 7.0 innings allowing two runs on seven hits while walking three (two intentionally) and striking out six to receive his fourth win of the season.

The Saints answered back in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a miscue by the Railcats defense. With one out Jason Cooper grounded to third, but Rhode's throw to first went off the glove of Scott and allowed Cooper to reach second on a two base error. Tripp then singled off the glove of a diving Brian Kolb which scored Cooper to make it 2-1.

It remained that way, with the Saints accumulating just that one hit, until the seventh. Cooper led off with a walk, moved to third on a double by Tripp, who was thrown out at second after taking too wide of a turn. Ronnie Bourquin doubled home Cooper to tie the game at two. With two outs Jonathan Van Every doubled off the base of the wall in right to give the Saints an advantage they wouldn't relinquish.

The Saints welcome in the Lincoln Saltdogs for a three game series beginning Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Midway Stadium. The Saints send LHP Donald Brandt (3-1, 4.21) to the mound against Saltdogs RHP Alessandro Maestri (2-3, 4.41). It is "Take the Jersey off our back(pack) as the first 1,501 fans receive a Saints jersey backpack. The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from June 12, 2011


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