05/05/2008 1:09 PM -
ST. PAUL, MN (May 5, 2008) – St. Paul Saints catcher Kevin Sullivan finished with five RBI and the pitching staff racked up 13 strikeouts as the Saints and Winnipeg Goldeyes finished tied 8-8 in a Tuesday morning exhibition game at Midway Stadium in front of 3,637.
With the Saints trailing 8-5 in the eighth Pichi Balet and Tim Brown drew back-to-back walks. Andre Marshall’s grounder was bobbled by Jeff Beachum at second loading the bases. After a wild pitch scored Balet, Sullivan ripped a two-run double to right tying the game at eight.
The Goldeyes got off to the early 2-0 lead in the second inning. Kevin West singled and Tydus Meadows followed with a double, putting runners at second at third. Antoin Gray’s infield single to third plated West, but Saints pitcher Alec Shepherd got Scott Schade to ground into a double which scored Meadows. Shepherd went 4.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven.
Sullivan came through for the Saints in the bottom of the inning blasting a three-run homer to left-center, his second of the spring. Sullivan finished the game 2-4 with a double, homer, five RBI and a run scored.
Not to be out done was Brent Metheny of the Goldeyes who hit two, two-run homers in successive at bats, one in the third and one in the fifth. The second homer was given up by Jon Secrist, the 53-year-old knucleballer who went 1.0 inning allowing three runs on two hits while walking two and striking out two.
The Saints scored two runs in the sixth inning and crept to within 7-4 on RBI singles from Andre Marshall and Ben Thomas.
Two other hitting stars for the Saints were Brent Krause who was 2-5 with a double and Jason Colson who went 2-2 with a double and a run scored.
Saints starting pitcher Charlie Ruud pitched the final 3.0 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking three and striking out three.
The Saints have one final exhibition game on Tuesday evening against the Miesville Mudhens at Jack Ruhr Field in Miesville at 7:35 p.m.
