Robert Coe Rebounds to Lead St. Paul Saints Victory, 6-2
A week ago, St. Paul Saints starter Robert Coe suffered his first loss of the season, at home, to the Sioux City Explorers. Tuesday night he got to turn the tables on the Explorers, holding them to two-runs in seven innings to lead his team to the 6-2 victory.
Ryan Zimmerman started for Sioux City and he and Coe kept the game scoreless through the first two innings. In the top of the third, the Saints were able to grab the lead. Aaron Gretz started the inning with a walk and moved to second on a ground ball out. Breland Almadova followed with a single that scored Gretz and it was 1-0 St. Paul.
In the fourth, the visitors would really extend their lead. Tony Thomas doubled with one out and moved to third on a single by Willie Argo. Tony Caldwell, who had homered four times in the past three games, was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chad Christensen then singled to bring home Thomas and St. Paul was up by two. Gretz then drew his second walk of the game to extend the lead to three. A sacrifice fly by Alonzo Harris brought home Caldwell, and a second RBI single by Almadova scored Christensen to give the St. Paul Saints a 5-0 lead.
Coe had allowed just two singles through the first three innings, but in the bottom half of the fourth the Sioux City Explorers were finally able to get on board against the Saints starter. Noah Perio singled to begin the frame and he moved to third on a double by Nate Samson. Tommy Mendonca grounded out to score Perio and Samson later scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to three.
That would be all the runs that Coe (4-1) would allow. The right-hander was brilliant over his final three innings of work, allowing a lone single and a walk. He finished the day with 6-hits and a walk allowed in 7-innings of work. He also struck out 3.
His team would add one more run on the scoreboard in the fifth. Angelo Songco doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a single by Willie Argo. A fielder’s choice scored Songco to made the score 6-2, which would be the final.
Argo continues to heat up, going 3-3 with a run and 2-walks. Over his last 10 games the Saints left fielder is 16-35, which has raised his average better than 50 points. Songco also had 3-hits and scored a run. Almadova drove in two.
Despite the loss, Samson had a big day at the plate, going 3-4 with a run scored. That makes him 4-5 in the series so far with 3-runs scored and 5-RBI.
The final game of this series is tomorrow at 7:05. John Straka (4-1, 6.23) will go for the St. Paul Saints against his former team. Cody Forsythe (2-2, 6.39) starts for Sioux City.
By Robert Pannier
