St. Paul, Minn. -- The St. Paul Saints picked up after the All-Star break right where they left off, as they defeated the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks 7-6 in a wild game at CHS Field.
Redhawks strike first
The Redhawks got on the board right away in the first inning when Keury De La Cruz singled to center field. He advanced to third when Josh Mazzola doubled to left. They both scored when Brian Humphries followed with a single to center field to put Fargo up 2-0. Dustin Geiger followed with a single, but he was retired on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
It took the Saints until the second inning when Willie Argo hit a one-out double. Aaron Gretz followed with a grounder to first base that was muffed by Geiger. His subsequent throw to first went over the head of the pitcher, allowing Argo to score and Gretz to take an extra base.
Fargo tacked on a run in the third when De La Cruz hit his 12th homerun of the season, this one to straightaway center field to extend it to a 3-1 lead.
The Saints responded with two runs in their half of the third when Alonzo Harris led off with a single to left. He stole second and scored when Brady Burzynski singled to center field. After Tony Thomas flew out, Dan Johnson singled to right-center field to advance Burzynski to second. He scored when Trever Adams singled to left field to tie the game at three.
St. Paul took the lead in the fourth when Breland Almadova drew a leadoff walk. He advanced to second when Tanner Vavra sacrificed him over, advanced to third on a Harris single, and scored when Harris was thrown out trying to steal second. Fargo tied it up again in the fifth when Mazzola hit a homerun of his own, this one to left field.
St. Paul blows the game open in the fifth
The Saints proceeded to erupt for three runs in their half of the inning, and it all started when Thomas singled to left field He advanced to second when Johnson was hit by a pitch. They both scored when Adams hit a triple to deep left-center field. He scored when Argo stepped up to the plate and singled.
Fargo got back two of those runs in the seventh when Geiger got a two-out walk. Charlie Valerio then followed with a homerun of his own to make it a 7-6 St. Paul lead.
Neither team scored in the eighth, and for the ninth, the Saints turned to All-Star closer Ryan Rodebaugh, who set down the side all on strikeouts to pick up his 19th save of the season.
Quick Hits
- Angelo Songco, who hurt his shoulder on Friday against Kansas City and did not participate in any All-Star festivities, will be out a few weeks, according to manager George Tsamis. It is hard to predict who will fill his spot at first, but on Friday it was Johnson.
- Third baseman Nate Hanson is also out for a week after his wife gave birth over the All-Star break. Tsamis said that the baby was healthy, but Hanson would not be back until next weekend, meaning that he will miss the road trip to Gary.
- The two teams play game two of the series on Friday night, as the Saints will send RHP Mark Hamburger (11-1, 2.49 ERA) to the mound, while the Redhawks will counter with RHP Jose Almarante (1-1, 3.03 ERA).
Game Info
Win - Benji Waite (2-1)
Loss - Brian Ernst (1-2)
Save - Ryan Rodebaugh (19)
Player of the game: Trever Adams (STP). 2-4, 3 RBI, 1 run scored. 2-RBI triple in the fifth