One night after losing by their biggest margin of the season, the St Paul Saints won a close game over the Kansas City T-Bones on Friday night at CHS Field. The win moves the Saints to 7-2 on the season and solidifies their first place standing.
Kansas City scores first
The T-Bones started the scoring in the top of the second inning when Anthony Gallas led off with a home run to left field. Tyler Massey followed that up with a walk, but he was erased on a nifty double play turned by the Saints.
St. Paul piles on
St. Paul scored two of their own in the bottom of the inning, and it started when Angelo Songco led off with a double to right field. The next batter, Tony Thomas, followed with a home run to left field to give the Saints a 2-1 lead.
The Saints added two more in the fourth, thanks to the two same guys. Songco again led off with a double, this time to center field. Thomas followed with a triple, scoring Songco. Thomas scored when Mike Gilmartin grounded out to first base for the first out of the inning.
St. Paul added three more in the fifth when Alonzo Harris led off with a double. Breland Almadova followed with a walk, and both advanced a base when Nate Hanson singled to left field. That brought up Songco with the bases loaded, and he got an RBI when he drew a walk.
(Stevie Larson/VAVEL USA)
Thomas followed wth his fourth RBI of the night when he flew out to center field. Tanner Vavra stepped up a few batters later and picked up an RBI single to score Hanson and put St. Paul up 7-1.
T-Bones add two more in the sixth
The T-Bones got four runs in the sixth inning when Jake Blackwood drew a leadoff walk. Gallas followed with a single. After Cole Leonida singled, Robby Kuzdale hit a home run to move the T-Bones to within two runs.
After that point, neither team was able to get any more runs, although the T-Bones had a good opportunity in the ninth when they got two runners on with two outs, but Blackwood struck out to end the game and give the Saints a narrow 7-5 victory.
Quick Hits
- The Saints are still unsure who will start on Saturday night, with manager George Tsamis saying that he was trying to sign an outside guy to make the start. Expect the official announcement to come shortly before game time. The T-Bones have announced who will pitch for them, and it will be Jordan Cooper, who will be making his season debut.
- Last night’s loss was just the 13th home loss for the Saints since moving into CHS Field last season. It was also their first home loss this season, as they started the season with a sweep of the Gary Southshore Railcats.
- In other league news, the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks held their home opener tonight, and before the game, they dedicated their press box to the late Scott Miller. Miller passed away over the winter after a battle with cancer. He was their longtime broadcaster.