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AA St. Paul Saints

Shaky Defense Nearly Costs Saints as They Hang on to Win 4-3 in Game Two of Doubleheader

July 17, 2013 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


LAREDO, TX (July 16, 2013) - Perhaps the St. Paul Saints concentration was waning as the second game of the doubleheader neared a conclusion. The defense nearly gave the game away, but the Saints hung on to defeat the Laredo Lemurs in the second game of the doubleheader 4-3 at Uni-Trade Stadium on Tuesday night to earn the split.

With the Saints leading 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth and two outs John Allen hit a pop up into foul territory. First baseman Ole Sheldon went over to make the catch, but the ball hit the tip of his glove and fell to the ground. On the next pitch Allen hit a pop up into shallow left center that shortstop Brad Boyer went out for and dropped it for an error. The next hitter Mike Sheridan hit a slow roller under pitcher Mikey Mehlich's glove and Boyer went to field the ball behind the second base bag, but couldn't come up with it cleanly and it went as an infield single. Dan Poma singled to left driving in a run to make it 4-3.

In the seventh Mehlich started the inning and tried to close it out, but Garrett Rau hit a grounder to third that Joey Becker backhanded, but couldn't field cleanly and Rau reached on an infield single. Mike Provencher stepped to the plate and attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Mehlich hit him to put runners at first and second with nobody out. After Brian Peterson struck out Mehlich left the game for closer Matt Meyer. He got Sawyer Carroll to ground out to first, which moved the runners up to second and third. After intentionally walking John Alonso, Meyer struck out .348 hitter Harrison Kain to end the game as Meyer picked up his 10th save of the season.

As in game one the Saints jumped out to a 2-0 lead getting three consecutive doubles in the second inning. Willie Cabrera led off with a double and Brandon Tripp followed with one to knock him home and give the Saints a 1-0 lead. Sheldon made it 2-0 with a double of his own. The Saints collected six doubles on the night.

In the fourth Saints starter Drew Gay made his only mistake of the night. He walked the leadoff man Carroll and then on a 3-2 pitch gave up a two-run homer to Alonso, his third of the season, to tie the game at two. Gay, making his second professional appearance and first start, tossed 5.0 innings allowing two runs on two hits while walking four and striking out one to pick up his first professional win.

The Saints took the lead back in the fifth when Adam Frost led off with a bunt single. He stole second and with one out he stole third. Boyer knocked him home with an RBI double to give the Saints a 3-2 lead. Cabrera doubled for the second time on the night and knocked home Boyer to make it 4-2. Cabrera had three doubles in the two games.

The same two teams meet Wednesday night in the finale of the three game series at Uni-Trade Stadium beginning at 7:35 p.m. The Saints send RHP Anthony Claggett (5-2, 3.38) to the mound against Lemurs LHP Fabian Williamson (5-1, 3.88). The game can be heard on Club 1220 AM.

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