After watching the pitching staff give away a four run lead in the first game of their double-header, Eddie Medina took matters into his own hands, tossing a complete game shutout in the night cap to lead the St. Paul Saints to a 6-0 victory. The Lincoln Saltdogs won the opening contest, 5-4, scoring five unanswered runs and Michael Tamburino tossed his first complete game of the season for Lincoln.

In Game 1, the St. Paul Saints would put a run up in the top of the first. Kyle Barrett doubled with one down and Max Murphy followed by drawing a walk. Brady Shoemaker lined a single into right field that scored Barrett to put the Saints on top, 1-0. The rally could have been bigger, but Murphy was thrown out trying to go for third.

In the top of the second, St. Paul would extend their lead to four. JJ Gould reached on an error to start the inning and scored when Jake Smith followed with a double. It was his fifth RBI in five games since signing with the Saints. Two batters later, Carter reached when the Saltdogs left fielder misplayed the ball for an error, and Carter came home when Barrett followed with a single into right field. That made it 4-0.

Dan Johnson had cruised through the first, but Lincoln would get a run back in the second. Chase Simpson drew a four-pitch walk with one down and moved to third when Angel Reyes followed with a single. Nathaniel Maggio grounded out, driving home Simpson to make it a three-run game.

In the third, the Lincoln Saltdogs would tie the score, chasing Johnson from the game. Dashenko Ricardo and Christian Ibarra delivered back-to-back singles to start the frame, and Ricardo scored on a single by Cesar Valera. A single by Curt Smith loaded the bases with one down and Simpson brought Ibarra home with a sacrifice fly. Jeff Matthys took over for Johnson and was greeted by a single by Reyes, driving home Valera to tie the score at four.

In the fourth, the Saltdogs took the lead. Randolph Oduber singled to start the inning and then stole second. Ricardo moved him to third with a single and Oduber scored on a ground out by Valera to make it 5-4.

Michael Tamburino (4-0) had struggled early, but he dominated over the final five innings of the game. The right-hander allowed just 3-hits the rest of the way and allowed 7-hits total and 4-runs, but only one earned. He struck out 10.

Dashenko Ricardo was 2-3 with a run scored and Cesar Valera scored a run and drove in two others. Kyle Barrett was 3-4 with a run and an RBI for St. Paul.

Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2 was all about St. Paul Saints starter Eddie Medina, who cruised through the contest. Medina allowed 3-hits in going the distance, giving the Saints their first complete game shutout of the season.

After neither team scored in the first, the Saints offense staked their starter to a lead in the second. Brady Shoemaker started the inning with a single and moved to second when Dante Bichette, Jr. singled two batters later. A base hit by Dan Johnson loaded the bases before Jake Smith struck out. With two down and the bases loaded, JJ Gould drilled a ball to the wall in right-center that he legged out for a triple. All three runners came around to score and St. Paul had a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth, St. Paul added another run. Jake Smith doubled with one out and came around to score on a single by Gould. That made it 4-0.

One inning later, St. Paul extended their lead to six. Max Murphy singled with one out and scored when Shoemaker drove him home. With two down, Bichette plated Shoemaker with a single for the final run of the game.

Eddie Medina struggled a little early on. He gave up a single to lead off the top of the first before inducing a double play. In the second, a walk and a single put two on with two outs before he was able to get a ground out to end the threat.

From there, the right-hander was in complete command. He gave up just one more hit and walk through the next five innings, completely dominating Lincoln. Medina (3-2) went 7-innings, allowing 3-hits and 2-walks. He struck out 1.

Max Murphy finished 3-4 with a run scored for the Saints. JJ Gould was 2-3 with 4-RBI. Brady Shoemaker was 2-4 with 2-runs and an RBI.

Game 2 Boxscore

By Robert Pannier