AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Sports

Published on July 8, 2008 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SHREVEPORT, LA (July 8, 2008) - The St. Paul Saints lost 5-4 on Tuesday night at Fair Grounds Field against the Shreveport Sports, but it wasn't because lack of opportunities as they left 13 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the ninth.

With the Saints trailing 5-2 in the ninth they mounted a come back. Julius Thames led off the inning with a walk. He moved to second on a single by Tony Mansolino, who finished the night 3-5 with a double and an RBI. Heath Keel grounded into a double play that moved Thames to third. Pichi Balet walked and Tim Brown hit a line drive that went off the glove of a leaping Wade Robinson at short which allowed Thames to score. Kevin Sullivan followed with an RBI single to right and Brown moved to third and Sullivan to second when the ball got away from the catcher Adam Miller. Brent Krause was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ben Thomas had an opportunity to tie or give the Saints the lead, but on a 3-2 pitch, he swung and foul tipped the ball into the catcher's mitt to end the game.

The Saints squandered opportunities all night long, but the Sports scored four of their five runs with two outs. The lone run they didn't score with two outs came in the second when Terrence McClain homered to left, a solo shot and his fifth of the season, second in as many nights.

The Saints tied it in the third when Thames led off with a single, stole second and scored on Mansolino's single.

In the fourth the Sports tacked on two runs. With one out Justin Humphries singled to right. With two outs Adam Hale homered to right, his fourth of the season, giving the Sports a 3-1 lead.

In the fifth the Sports stole a run, literally. With one out Bobby Bratton doubled to left. Deacon Burns followed with a single off of Thames' glove at second, putting runners at first and second. A fly out by Robinson moved Bratton to third. With Ron Fenwick at the plate, Burns broke for second and pitcher Justin Lord threw to first. First baseman Tim Brown threw to Mansolino covering second, who fired to the plate, but his throw wasn't in time to get Bratton, making it 4-1.

In the sixth the Sports got their final run with two outs. McClain singled with one out and stole second. With two outs Miller singled to right to drive home McClain.

The Saints tried to mount a come back in the eighth when Balet, Brown and Sullivan all singled with no one out to load the bases. Krause struck out, Thomas followed with an RBI ground out, to make it 5-2, and Josh Womack struck out to end the inning.

The same two teams meet Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. in the third game of the four game series. The Saints send RHP Dustin Bolton (3-2, 3.04) to the mound against Sports RHP Thad Markray (6-3, 4.13). The game can be heard on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from July 8, 2008


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