AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short 6-5

Published on August 15, 2008 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (August 15, 2008) - Another ninth inning rally, another comeback that fell short for the St. Paul Saints who scored four in the bottom of the ninth, but lost 6-5 to the Wichita Wingnuts on Friday night at Midway Stadium.

With the Saints trailing 6-1 in the ninth Ryan Priddy led off by reaching on a hit by pitch. With one out Pichi Balet singled Priddy to second. Ron Fenwick loaded the bases with a bloop single to left field. The Saints made it a 6-3 game with a two-run single from Brent Krause. The Wingnuts brought in their closer Byron Embry, who threw 33 pitches the night before, and he struck out the first batter he faced, Ben Thomas. Kevin Sullivan made it 6-4 with a single to left and Krause moved to third. A passed ball scored Krause and moved the tying run into scoring position. Heath Keel, who homered against Embry the night before, struck out to end the game.

The Wingnuts never trailed on the evening and got it started right away as Kevin Hooper led off the game with a solo homer to left, his first of the season.

In the second Chris Colton reached on an error by shortstop Ryan Priddy. He moved to second on a single by Stephen Pearson. Bernie Dennis made it 2-0 with a single to right-center.

The Saints made it 2-1 in the third as Adam Hale led off with a single to right. He was sacrificed to second by Priddy and Jimmy Mojica singled to right moving Hale to third. Pichi Balet hit a grounder to short and Hooper's throw to the plate erased Hale, but the next batter Fenwick singled home Mojica.

The Wingnuts took a 3-1 lead in the fifth as Hooper and Brenan Herrera pounded out back-to-back doubles.

In the eighth Michael Thompson hit a solo homer for the Wingnuts, his 10th of the season, making it 4-1.

The Wingnuts added two important insurance runs in the ninth as Dennis led off with a walk. He was sacrificed to second by Blake Gailen. Kevin Hooper reached on an infield single and Herrera drove home two with a double to left.

The same two teams meet in the final game of the three game series on Saturday night at Midway Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send LHP Luis Villarreal (3-4, 2.89) to the mound against Wingnuts RHP Gustavo Mata (4-6, 4.06). It is a Night of Great Ideas presented by Xcel Energy. The game can be seen on KSTC-TV, Channel 45 and heard on Relevant Radio 1330.

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