SIOUX FALLS, SD (July 15, 2020) – The St. Paul Saints have had two opportunities as the home team in Sioux Falls for a walk-off win. Their first came against Sioux Falls six days ago, but they lost by a run. On Wednesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium they had their second chance, but the result was the same. The Saints left the tying run stranded at second and lost 4-3 to the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

With the Saints down a run and one out in the ninth Max Murphy walked. He moved to second on a wild pitch, but Nate Samson flew out to left and Troy Alexander struck out to end the game.

The Saints trailed 4-0 after three innings and weren’t doing much against Goldeyes starter Frank Duncan who allowed a two-out fourth inning single and nothing else through the first five innings. In the sixth, Mitch Ghelfi reached on a one out single to third. Mikey Reynolds continued his hot start to the season with a single to left putting runners at first and second. With two outs Chesny Young knocked home Ghelfi to make it 4-1. Duncan went 6.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out five.

In the eighth, Alexander led off with a solo homer to right, his second of the season, making it 4-2. With one out, Reynolds doubled to left and that forced the Goldeyes to remove reliever Nate Antone in favor of Kevin McGovern. He got Justin Byrd to pop out, but Young grounded a single through the right side scoring Reynolds getting the Saints within a run. Young went 3-4 with two RBI, his second straight three-hit game.

The Goldeyes scored the first four runs of the game and it started in the first. Eddie Medina walked the leadoff hitter Kevin LaChance and Darnell Sweeney singled to center putting runners at first and second. With two outs, and runners at the corners, Eric Wood hit a slow ground ball to third that Young charged, appeared to double clutch, and then threw away at first for a two-run error giving the Goldeyes a 2-0 lead.

In the third Medina once again walked LaChance to lead off the inning and Sweeney made him pay with a two-run homer to left, his third of the season, making it 4-0. Medina went 7.0 innings allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits while walking four and striking out one.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three-game series on Thursday night at Sioux Falls Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Matt Solter (2-0, 2.84) to the mound against Goldeyes RHP John Gorman (0-0, 1.42). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM and seen at aabaseball.tv.

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by Sean Aronson, St. Paul Saints