Six-Run Seventh Sends Hamburger to Victory; Saints Win 7-4
Mark Hamburger headed to the mound for the St. Paul Saints Friday night looking for his fourth win of the season. He would find himself trailing 4-1 entering the seventh inning, and looked like he may be on his way to his first loss of the year, but a six-run seventh gave the right-hander the lead. He would close out the game for his second complete game and the Saints would drop the Laredo Lemurs 7-4.
Neither team was able to score in the first two frames, but the Lemurs were able to take the lead in the third. Hamburger retired the first two hitters of the inning, but Alvaro Rondon kept the frame alive with a single. Ty Morrison then delivered a huge clutch hit, a triple to right field that scored Rondon and he scored on a single by J.D. Pulfer. That would make the score 2-0.
In the top of the sixth, St. Paul was able to cut the deficit in half. Back-to-back singles by Alonzo Harris and Breland Almadova got the inning started, and Nate Hanson plated Harris on a third straight single. However, Almadova was thrown out trying to reach third to quell the rally.

The Lemurs came right back with two in the bottom of the sixth. Laredo started out with back-to-back singles of their own from Morrison and Pulfer. Drew Martinez laid down a perfect sacrifice to move both runners into scoring position, and Dennis Phipps sent both of them home with a base hit to make it 4-1.
Hamburger looked like he was in danger of suffering his first loss, but his offense erupted for him in the top of the seventh. With starter Ryan Beckman still on the mound, he struck out Willie Argo for the first out of the inning. Then it fell apart for him. Four straight singles sent him to the showers. Tanner Vavra and Aaron Gretz had the first two, putting runners at first and second with one out. Sam Maus then singled to load the bases, and Alonzo Harris delivered the fourth straight single, scoring Vavra.

That would be it for Beckman. He would leave with a 4-2 lead, but the bases were loading and there was only one out. Luis De La Cruz took over the Lemurs starter, but could not stop the bleeding. Almadova singled to score both Gretz and Maus and the game was tied. Hanson then doubled to left field, scoring both Harris and Almadova easily, and St. Paul has their first lead of the game. A base hit by Tony Thomas plated Hanson and it was 7-4 Saints.
With new life, Hamburger cruised over the final three innings. He retired the side in order in each of the final three frames, putting together a streak of 11 straight outs. Overall, Hamburger (4-0) tossed a complete game, allowing 6-hits and 3-earned runs. He didn’t walk any batters and struck out 4.
Harris finished 3-4 with 2-runs and an RBI. Hanson drove in 3 with a 2-5 performance. He also scored a run. Almadova was 2-5 with a run scored and 2-RBI. Thomas and Gretz each had two hits as well.
The three-game series continues tomorrow night. Robert Coe (2-0, 2.51) goes for the St. Paul Saints. Game time is 7:05.
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By Robert Pannier