saintsbaseball.com

ST. PAUL, MN (August 19, 2008) – In the ninth the St. Paul Saints had the tying runs on base and the winning run at the plate, but ex-Saint closer Matt Hammons slammed the door in a 6-4 loss at the hands of the Lincoln Saltdogs on Tuesday night at Midway Stadium in front of 6,721.

 

            In the ninth Hammons led off by walking Ron Fenwick. He struck out Ryan Priddy looking and walked Pichi Balet to put runners at first and second. Brent Krause struck out looking and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Ben Thomas hit a grounder to second that Dustin Yount booted allowing Fenwick to score and cutting the deficit to two. Hammons struck out Kevin Sullivan, however, to end the game and pick up his fifth save of the season, fourth against the Saints in four appearances.

 

            The Saints fell behind early 6-0 as the Saltdogs got two in the second with Shea McFeely hitting a solo homer to left, his fifth of the season. With two outs, two walks and an error allowed the Saltdogs to make it 2-0.

 

            In the fifth the Saltdogs put up four more runs and it got started when Yount hit a routine fly ball to center that Krause lost in the lights and it fell for a double. Kit Pellow followed with a single to left moving Yount to third. A walk to Shawn McGill loaded the bases, but the next batter hit a sinking fly ball to center that Krause made a diving catch on. McFeely, however, followed with a bases clearing double to center making it 5-0. Two batters later and Deacon Burns made it 6-0 with an RBI single to right.

 

            The Saints answered in the bottom of the fifth as Steve Butler doubled to right and scored on a double by Ron Fenwick. Priddy followed with an RBI single making it 6-2.

 

            In the seventh the Saints made it 6-3 as Fenwick walked with one out. Priddy was hit by a pitch and with two outs Krause singled to short and the throwing error by shortstop Manny Rodriguez allowed Fenwick to score.

 

            The same two teams meet in the final game at Midway Stadium in 2008 at 7:05 p.m. It is Fan Appreciation Night with postgame fireworks. The Saints send RHP Jeff Blitstein (2-2, 3.28) to the mound against Saltdogs RHP Jarrett Gardner (10-6, 3.37). The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network (check saintsbaseball.com for the channel in your area) and heard on Relevant Radio 1330.