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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints up to Parr in 6-4 Comeback Victory over RailCats

May 17, 2014 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - For the first time in 2014 the St. Paul Saints trailed in a ballgame, but they got late inning heroics and came out with a 6-4 win over the Gary SouthShore Railcats on Saturday evening at Midway Stadium in front of 4,573. The victory is the 998th in franchise history.

With the Saints trailing 4-2 going to the bottom of the seventh former Major League pitcher James Parr came out of the bullpen for the Railcats. Joey Becker started the inning with a single to center. He moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a one out single from Brandon Wikoff. Joe Bonfe collected his second straight three-hit game driving in Becker with a single to cut the deficit to 4-3. Evan Bigley then drilled a three-run homer over the center field wall, his first of the season, which proved to be the difference in the game.

With the Saints up 1-0 in the fourth, Brandon Tripp crushed a solo homer to right, his first of the season, putting the Saints up 2-0.

The lead lasted until the sixth when the Railcats got to Saints reliever Jon Plefka. Craig Maddox led off with a single to right-center. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Jeremy Hamilton walked to put runners at first and second. Zac Mitchell followed with a single to right, but right fielder Tripp threw out Maddox trying to score. A walk to Miles Walding loaded the bases for Danny Pulfer. He drilled a bases clearing triple to left-center to give the Railcats a 3-2 lead. Plefka departed the game for lefty Ryan Bollinger. Drew Martinez' drag bunt single scored Pulfer to make it 4-2. Plefka was charged with four runs in 0.2 innings of work.

Bollinger worked 1.2 scoreless innings, Mikey Mehlich pitched 0.2 scoreless innings and Dan Sattler got the save with a perfect ninth inning.

Saints starter Nick Barnese, making his first appearance since 2012 was solid going 5.0 shutout innings. The three Saints starters so far this season have given up just two runs in 17.2 innings.

The offense continued to roll and the top of the order of Wikoff and Bonfe were once again incredible as both went 3-4 and the two reached base safely in eight of 10 plate appearances.

The final game of the four game series is Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Saints send LHP Cole Nelson (NR) to the mound against Railcats RHP Stephen Bougher (NR). It is Kids' Replica Saints jersey giveaway as the first 500 fans 14 and under will receive the free replica jersey. The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB and in the ballpark on 87.9 FM.

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