AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Skid Hits Four as Former Big Leaguer Hits Walk-Off Homer in 6-5 Loss

Published on August 25, 2015 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


WICHITA, KS (August 25, 2015) - The St. Paul Saints battled back on Tuesday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, but former Major Leaguer Andy LaRoche hit his second home run of the night in the ninth, a solo shot, that sent the Saints to their fourth straight loss, 6-5 to the Wichita Wingnuts.

With the game tied at five in the ninth Saints closer Ryan Rodebaugh got David Espinosa to fly out to deep center. LaRoche, who hit a solo homer in the fourth, took a 3-2 pitch and hit it over the left field wall for the walk-off game winner.

With the Saints leading 1-0 in the fourth the Wingnuts finally got to newest pitcher Reyes Dorado. LaRoche tied it with the solo homer and then T.J. Mittelstaedt singled. John Nester followed with a single and a sacrifice bunt by Harrison Kain put runners at second and third. Leo Vargas' sacrifice fly gave the Wingnuts a 2-1 lead.

The lead was short lived as the Saints scored three in the top of the fifth. Joey Paciorek led off with a single and Anthony Phillips walked. A sacrifice bunt by Dan Kaczrowski moved the runners up. Alonzo Harris gave the Saints a 3-2 lead with a two-run single to right, but he was thrown out trying to go to second. Willie Argo followed with a solo homer to left, his 10th of the season, to make it 4-2.

In the bottom of the inning the Saints got an unfortunate bounce that extended the inning and proved costly. Nick Van Stratten led off with a single to left. With one out David Espinosa lined out to short. Anthony Phillips' throw to first for the double play glanced off the top of the helmet of Van Stratten sliding back into first and went into the stands. After a walk to LaRoche, Mittelstaedt hit a three-run homer to right, his 14th of the season, to give the Wingnuts a 5-4 lead.

The Saints tied it in the seventh on a solo homer by Harris, his 12th of the season and third in as many games.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Saints send RHP Robert Coe (9-3, 2.71) to the mound against Wingnuts RHP Jason Van Skike (7-5, 4.29). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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