AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Know How to Spell R-E-L-I-E-F with 6-4 Victory over Canaries

Published on August 21, 2018 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


The St. Paul Saints bullpen has been a strength all season long and down the stretch they are going to be counted on time and time again. On Tuesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium the bullpen worked 6.0 shutout innings as the Saints rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win 6-4 over the Sioux Falls Canaries. The Saints remained in first place in the North with 12 games left, but only by a 0.5 game as the Gary SouthShore Railcats swept a double header over the Chicago Dogs. The Saints lead on a playoff spot, is 2.5 games as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks were still in action.

After Saints starter Ryan Zimmerman gave up four runs in 3.0 innings of work, although he worked a perfect third inning, the bullpen made sure the game remained close. With the Saints trailing 4-2 in the fourth Evan Mitchell did just that. He retired the first seven batters he faced before giving up a one out infield single to Mike Hart in the sixth. Mitchell, however, would strike out Maxx Garrett and get Jordan Smith to fly out. Mitchell went 3.0 shutout innings allowing one hit while striking out three and earning his first win of the season.

Beck Wheeler took over in the seventh with the Saints up by a pair. After striking out Jordan Dean, he walked Mitch Glasser. Wheeler fanned David Bergin for the second out. With Jabari Henry at the plate, Glasser took off from first as Wheeler stepped off and was able to get Glasser in a run down and he was tagged out to end the inning. Wheeler would pitch a perfect eighth and went 2.0 shutout innings while walking one and striking out four.

In the ninth Zack Jones slammed the door shut pitching a perfect inning while striking out one to earn his seventh save in as many tries. He has not allowed a base runner in five straight appearances. Overall, the bullpen went 6.0 innings allowing one hit while walking one and striking out eight.

With the Saints trailing 1-0 in the top of the second Justin O'Conner tied it with a solo homer to left, his second in as many games and 14th of the season.

After the Canaries plated three in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead, the Saints responded in the third. With Brady Shoemaker at second and two outs, Dante Bichette Jr. extended his hitting streak to 20 with an RBI single to left-center making it 4-2. The 20-game hitting streak is the longest of the season by a Saints player and tied his personal high. It's also tied for the sixth longest in franchise history.

In the fifth the Saints tied it at four when Kyle Barrett singled to right-center to lead off the inning. With one out Zach Walters hit a two-run homer to left, his 11th of the season and fifth with the Saints. With the Saints two home runs on Tuesday night they have now hit 25 in the last 12 games and have homered in seven straight.

In the sixth Aaron Gretz reached on a one out single followed by a hit by pitch to Joey Wong. With two outs Barrett gave the Saints their first lead of the night with a two-run double to left-center making it 6-4. Barrett finished the night 3-5 with two doubles and two RBI, extending his hit streak to 17.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three-game series on Wednesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Jake Matthys (7-7, 4.44) to the mound while the Canaries are TBA. The game can be heard on Alt 93.3 FM.

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American Association Stories from August 21, 2018


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