AA St. Paul Saints

Six Run Seventh, Complete Game by Hamburger, Propel Saints to 7-4 Win

Published on June 3, 2016 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


LAREDO, TX - Both teams traveled roughly 780 miles overnight to get to the same destination. The Saints had more fuel left in the tank at the end as they scored six runs in the seventh, got a complete game from their ace Mark Hamburger, as the Saints defeated the defending champion Laredo Lemurs 7-4 on Friday night at Uni-Trade Stadium. The Saints improved to 12-4, best in the American Association, on the season and 4-1 on their franchise long 14 game roadtrip.

With the Saints down 4-1 in the seventh and showing signs of life an inning before they finally got to Lemurs starter Ryan Beckman. The bottom third of the order: Tanner Vavra, Aaron Gretz and Sam Maus all singled to load the bases. The heavy lifting was left to the top three guys in the order and they didn't disappoint. Alonzo Harris roped an RBI single to left to make it 4-2. He finished the night 3-4 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Breland Almadova tied it up with a two-run single up the middle. Nate Hanson then gave the Saints their first lead of the night with a two-run double to left to make it 6-4. Two batters later Tony Thomas doubled home a run to finish the scoring. Thomas finished the night 2-4 with two doubles and an RBI. He extended his hitting streak to a career tying high 15 games which he set from July 31-August 15, 2007. The hitting streak is tied for the 12th longest in Saints history.

Mark Hamburger did the rest. He retired the Lemurs in order in seven of the nine innings he pitched. The only two innings he was unable to retire the side were the innings the Lemurs scored. In the third Alvaro Rondon singled with two outs and Ty Morrison followed with an RBI triple to give the Lemurs a 1-0 lead. J.D. Pulfer followed with an RBI infield single to make it 2-0.

The Saints got a run back in the sixth when Harris led off with a single. Almadova singled him to second and Hanson knocked home Harris with a single, but Almadova was thrown out trying to go to third. Hanson finished the night 2-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored.

In the bottom of the inning the Lemurs answered when Morrison led off with a single and Pulfer followed with a single. After a sacrifice by Drew Martinez moved the runners over, Denis Phipps dropped a broken bat single just on the edge of the outfield grass over a drawn in infield scoring both runs to make it 4-1.

Hamburger wouldn't allow another hit the rest of the way retiring the final 11 men he faced. The complete game was his seventh in Saints history tying him for second most in franchise history with Jake Whitney (2001-04). Only Charlie Ruud (2005-09) has more with 10.

The same two teams meet Saturday night in game two of the three game series at Uni-Trade Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Robert Coe (2-0, 2.51) to the mound. The Lemurs are TBA. The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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American Association Stories from June 3, 2016


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