AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Offense Produces for Charity in 8-3 Win, But Eliminated from Playoff Contention

Published on September 1, 2012 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - It was Bounty Night at the ballpark with the St. Paul Saints collecting money for concussion research. With singles worth $100, doubles $200, triples $300 and home runs worth $400, each strike out by a Saints pitcher totaling $10 apiece and every time the Saints knocked a Wichita Wingnuts pitcher out it was worth $50. When all was said and done the Saints collected $1,900 that will be donated to the Children's Hospital of Minnesota to their new concussion wing as they defeated the Wingnuts 8-3 at Midway Stadium on Saturday night in front of 4,094. Unfortunately, the Winnipeg Goldeyes defeated the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 5-1 and clinched the Wild Card.

Knowing they needed to win their last three games and hope the Goldeyes would lose their final three the Saints jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings. In the first Joe Spiers led off with a single, stole second and scored on Adam Frost's single to make it 1-0.

In the second the Saints put up a four spot when they batted around. With one out Tanner Townsend singled and moved to third on a Jim Rapoport double. After Alex Garabedian walked to load the bases, Spiers cleared the bases with a triple which gave the Saints a 4-0 lead. Spiers finished the night 3-5 with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored. Frost followed with a single which scored Spiers to make it 5-0. Frost finished the night 2-4 with two RBI.

As the Saints game entered the top of the fourth with the Saints leading 5-0, the Goldeyes went to the top of the ninth in their game leading 5-1.

With two on and two out in the top of the fourth for the Wingnuts Mike Conroy hit a fly ball to right that Miles Durham went back on and had the ball fall in and out of his glove for a two base error that scored two runs to make it 5-2. Almost simultaneously, the Goldeyes recorded the third out in their game which eliminated the Saints from playoff contention.

Saints starter Luke Anderson left the game in the fourth with an injured elbow and Robert Coe took over. Coe pitched 1.1 shutout innings and received the win. In the process Coe put his name atop the Saints record books in two categories. The win was his 12th of the season tying the Saints single-season record held by Jim Manfred (1996), Jake Whitney (2002), Kevin Foster (2003) and Charlie Ruud (2008). The 1.1 innings gave him 139.1 for the season surpassing Charlie Ruud's 2007 record of 138.2.

With the Saints leading 6-2 in the sixth Alex Garabedian walked and with two outs Jon Hurst hit a two-run homer to left, his first of the season, to give the Saints an 8-2 lead.

The same two teams meet in the second game of the three game series on Sunday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Kyle Ruwe (4-1, 2.40) against Wingnuts RHP Derek Blacksher (9-5, 4.58). It is Jackie Lee Night with a post-game fireworks Super Show. The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB and in the ballpark on 87.9 FM.

Check out the St. Paul Saints Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Association Stories from September 1, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central