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St. Paul Saints

Saints Win 7-4, Control Playoff Fate

August 29, 2011 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


GARY, IN (August 29, 2011) - And now the St. Paul Saints wait. A big five run third inning helped give the Saints a 7-4 victory over the Gary SouthShore Railcats at U.S. Steel Yard on Monday night and can clinch the wild card if the Wichita Wingnuts lose to the El Paso Diablos on Monday evening (check americanassociationbaseball.com for updated score). If Wichita wins the Saints can clinch a playoff berth in the final game of the season on Tuesday, but have assured themselves, at worst, of a one game playoff against the Railcats on Wednesday night.

With the game scoreless in the third and two outs Adam Frost got it started with a single to right. Aharon Eggleston dumped a single into left putting runners at first and second. Ryan Patterson, who the Saints got in a trade a week and a half ago, hit his first homer with his new club and 20th of the season, a three-run shot to left, giving the Saints a 3-0 lead. The rally didn't end there as Ole Sheldon followed with a double and Ronnie Bourquin doubled him home to make it 4-0. Richard Mercado's RBI single made it 5-0.

The Railcats got one back in the fifth as Chris Carrara singled with one out and advanced to third on a single by Adam Klein. Mike Massaro's sacrifice fly scored Carrara to make it 5-1.

The Saints, as they have many times this season, answered back in the sixth, once again with two outs. Mercado led off with a walk and advanced to second on a two out single from Steve Mays. Frost collected his second hit of the night, an RBI double to left, to make it 6-1.

It looked like that would be all Saints starter Alberto Rolon would need as he cruised through six innings. In the seventh, however, Kyle Haines led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out. Mike Valadez doubled home Haines to make it 6-2. Carrara then hit a two-run homer to left, his second of the season, to make it 6-4 and that would be the night for Rolon he gave way to Jesse English. Rolon went 6.1 innings allowing four runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out five. English walked the first man he faced, Adam Klein. After a fly out he walked Brad Boyer to put runners at first and second. English fell behind Mike Rohde 3-0, but battled back and got him to strike out stranding the tying runs on base.

Saints reliever Kyle Foster pitched a perfect eighth of relief striking out two.

The Saints got an insurance run in the ninth when Frost led off with a double and advanced to third on a ground out by Aharon Eggleston. With the infield in Patterson's grounder towards the middle was smothered by shortstop Kyle Haines, but he couldn't make a play allowing Frost to score on the infield single.

Tyler Walker closed out the game by pitching a perfect ninth and striking out two.

Frost went 3-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored extending his hitting streak to seven while Patterson went 3-5 with a homer, four RBI and a run scored.

The possible final game of the season is Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. in the finale of the four game series. The Saints are TBA and the Railcats send RHP Scott Shaw (10-5, 5.26). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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