News
Strong Defense, Late Inning Hitting Key to Saints in 6-1 Win![]() ST. PAUL, MN (May 23, 2015) – The highlight reel plays are turning rather commonplace for the St. Paul Saints. On Saturday night they made five spectacular plays, none better than the one by outfielder Willie Argo. In the end the Saints won for the third straight time to start the season, 6-1, at CHS Field against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in front of 7,850.
In the first inning Argo made a play for the ages. Stefan Gartrell appeared to crush a ball to left-center. Argo raced back towards the warning track, but the ball didn’t carry. Argo put on the breaks, fell forward onto the grass, and while on his stomach stuck his glove up and made the catch. He immediately fired the ball back towards the infield and doubled up the runner at first.
Both starters cruised through the first five innings before Saints starter, Kramer Sneed, had the only blip of his evening in the sixth. With one out Sneed hit Frank Salerno, who stole second and advanced to third on a single by Zach Penprase. With two outs Joe Dunnigan singled home Salerno to give the RedHawks a 1-0 lead. Sneed went 6.0 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out three.
The Saints wasted little time taking the lead as the RedHawks made two errors on one play. After back-to-back walks to Argo and Ian Gac, Austin Kirk’s defense let him down. Mike Kvasnicka laid down a sacrifice bunt towards third. Brent Peterson’s throw to first went into right field allowing Argo to score. With the ball rolling into right field Dunnigan bobbled it which allowed Gac to score giving the Saints a 2-1 lead. Kirk left the game for reliever Ty Kelley. The first batter Kelley faced, Steve Nikorak, hit a two-run homer to left, his first of the season, giving the Saints a 4-1 lead.
The Saints tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth when Michael Antonio doubled with two outs. Vinny DiFazio’s RBI single made it 5-1. DiFazio advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Nikorak. He finished the night 2-4 with a double, home run, three RBI and a run scored.
The Saints bullpen was solid as Dylan Chavez, Ryan Rodebaugh and Alex Sogard tossed 3.0 shutout innings allowing two hits while striking out three.
The finale of the four game series is Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Jeff Shields (NR) to the mound against RedHawks RHP Ryan Blough (NR). |
![]()
Browse by Month »
January 2021 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 December 2008 November 2008 September 2008 |