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Saints Hang on for 5-4 Victory over Blasters

June 8, 2015 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (June 8, 2015) - The St. Paul Saints haven't played many tight ballgames this season, but on Monday night in front of 5,639 at CHS Field they managed to hang on for a 5-4 victory over the Joplin Blasters, in the first ever meeting between the two teams. With the win the Saints improved to 15-2.

With the Saints leading 5-1 in the in the eighth and one out Maikol Gonzalez hit a fly ball to shallow right that Saints second baseman Sam Maus went after, but right field Mike Kvasnica never saw. The ball dropped in for a base hit and started a rally for the Blasters. Oscar Mesa doubled home Gonzalez to make it 5-2. The Saints went to their bullpen for left-hander Alex Sogard to face the left-hand hitting Yasser Gonzalez. Gonzalez won the battle with a seeing-eye single up the middle that scored Mesa to make it 5-3. Saints closer Ryan Rodebaugh came on to get the final two outs of the inning.

In the ninth Rodebaugh had a man at second and two outs, but Mitch Glasser reached on an infield single to short, putting runners at the corners. Gonzalez followed with an RBI single to make it a one run game and the Blasters had the tying run 90 feet away. Rodebaugh, however, got Mesa to fly out to Alonzo Harris in left-center to end the game, and Rodebaugh picked up his fifth save of the season.

The Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first off of Jorge Martinez, who entered the game having given up just two runs in three starts. Harris led off the first with a single and stole second. With one out Willie Argo made it 1-0 with an RBI single. Ian Gac roped his 12th double of the season to drive home Argo and make it 2-0. With two outs Angelo Songco tacked on an RBI single.

With the Saints leading 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth Mike Kvasnicka led off with a triple and scored on a single by Songco to give the Saints a 4-1 lead.

Gac made it 5-1 in the seventh when he hit his second homer of the season, and first since opening day, a solo blast to left. He went 2-4 with a double, home run, two RBI and two runs scored.

Saints starter Robert Coe had another solid outing. He allowed just two hits on the night, a double in the second and a double in the sixth, which would later score on an error. He went 5.2 innings allowing one unearned run on two hits while walking three and striking out one to pick up his second win of the season.

The same two teams meet in game two of the three game series on Tuesday night at CHS Field at 7:05 p.m. We memorialize Saturday Morning Cartoons. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Access Network, cable access channels in the Twin Cities Metro Area, and heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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