Saints at ThunderHeads Recap

The Saints are down in the Lone Star State for a 9 game road trip against Amarillo, Laredo, and Grand Prairie. The trip opened up Tuesday night in Amarillo with the Saints taking their first loss of the season 8-3 in front of 2,100 fans at ThunderHeads Stadium in Amarillo.
The ThunderHeads would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd on an RBI Single by Taylor Smart. They would bring the game to 5-1 in the 6th on a Juan Martinez two-run home run. The Saints would try to rally back with an RBI single by Sam Maus and an RBI double by Ian Gac. However the ThunderHeads would cap it off in the bottom of the 7th with 3 runs to make it 8-3. Amarillo starter Matt Larkins would get the win pitching 5 innings giving up no runs on 3 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. Pedro Hernandez would take the Saints first loss of the year pitching 6 innings giving up 5 runs on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts.
However the fortunes would turn the next night as the Saints would crush Amarillo 10-1 in front of a meager turnout of 411 fans. St. Paul came out strong leading 6-1 after 2 innings and never looked back. It would be 7-1 in the 6th, in the 8th Sam Maus would drive in an RBI single to make it 8-1 while Angelo Songco was walked with the bases loaded to have Alonzo Harris score making it 9-1. It would finish off in the 9th with Sam Maus driving in Steve Nikorak on an RBI single. Crenshaw took the win (2-0) going a strong 7 innings pitched giving up 1 run on 6 hits and striking out 4. Tanner took the loss for Amarillo giving up 6 runs on 6 hits walking 1 and striking out 2.
The series would end on Thursday night in Amarillo with another paltry crowd of just 311 seeing this one. Amarillo started off with 2 runs in the bottom of the first but St. Paul came back with 2 of their own to tie it in the 4th. After 9 the game was tied at 4 runs a piece and with nothing scored in the 10th it went to the 11th utilizing the American Association's new extra inning rule. The Saints put together 4 runs in the 11th to win the game 8-4 and take the series 2-1. Reliever Ryan Rodebaugh who pitched the final 2 innings took the win for St. Paul while Arrebato pitched the final 2 innings for Amarillo took the loss.
St. Paul is now 6-1 through 7 games leading the North Division by 2 games over Sioux Falls. The Saints travel to Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo to take on the Lemurs starting tonight and ending Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30PM tonight and tomorrow, while Sunday is scheduled for 6:00PM. You can catch the game on 1220 KLBB radio or watch it on americanassociationbaseball.tv. My next series recap will be on Sunday night/early Monday after the series with Laredo. Remember Fun Is Good and GO SAINTS!