AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Tenderize T-Bones in 14-9 Slugfest Win

Published on May 27, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


KANSAS CITY, KS (May 27, 2011) - This was just game one of a 13-game roadtrip that saw the St. Paul Saints outlast the Kansas City T-Bones 14-9 at Community America Ballpark as Shane Costa, a former Kansas City Royal, did something he had never done in his nine year professional career.

Of the 18 players between the two teams, 16 collected hits, including all nine Saints. Three different Saints collected at least three hits with Costa collected a career-high five, including three doubles as he went 5-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. The Saints scored in seven of their nine innings while the T-Bones scored in five of their nine. T-Bones second baseman Rico Washington collected two hits and now has hit in all 14 games this season raising his average to .431. In the end, however, the Saints outlasted the T-Bones.

Each time the T-Bones scored the Saints had an answer. With the game tied at two in the fifth Jason Cooper gave the Saints their first lead of the night on an RBI ground out to make it 3-2. It was a lead the Saints wouldn't relinquish. The next batter Brandon Tripp slugged a two-run homer to right-center, his second of the season, to make it 5-2 Saints. Tripp had his fifth three-hit game of the season going 3-6, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, with four RBI and three runs scored.

In the sixth Costa collected his second RBI of the night with a two-out RBI single to give the Saints a 6-3 lead. Costa raised his average from .229 to .317 with his five hit performance. His five hits were one shy of the franchise single game record of six set by Tonayne Brown on July 3, 2005 @ Sioux Falls. Costa's three doubles tied a franchise record, which has now been done 14 times.

With the Saints lead trimmed to 6-5 in the seventh Richard Mercado drove home two with a two out, two-run double to make it 8-5.

The Saints appeared to add all the breathing room they would need in the eighth when they put up a four spot courtesy of Tripp's two-run double and a two-run homer by Jonathan Van Every, his fifth of the season to make it 12-5.

The T-Bones, however, answered back as Ray Sadler hit a three-run homer, his third of the season to make it 12-8 Saints.

Once again the Saints got a little more breathing room in the ninth getting an RBI double from Adam Frost, who went 3-6, falling a homer shy of the cycle, with an RBI and three runs scored, and an RBI ground out from Justin Snyder.

It proved to be enough as the final out of the game was a deep drive to left-center by Washington that, fittingly, Costa tracked down to end the three hour and 39 minute contest.

The same two teams meet in game two of the three game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Matt Long (1-1, 4.96) against T-Bones RHP Ryne Reynoso (2-0, 3.46). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

Check out the St. Paul Saints Statistics

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



American Association Stories from May 27, 2011


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