The St. Paul Saints and Joplin Blasters were able to get enough sunshine to play the final two games of their four-game set. In Game 1, the Saints had the lead entering the sixth inning, but the bullpen could not hold it and the team fell 4-3. Game 2 saw emergency starter Alec Crawford pitch well again as St. Paul won 5-3.

In Game 1, Cody Scrapetta made his second start for the St. Paul Saints. In his first start he had pitched a gem only to watch his team give up the lead late. This would be the result here as well.

In the first inning, the Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Alonzo Harris started out the game with a single and stole second base. A base hit by Breland Almadova would score Harris to give St. Paul the quick lead.

It would stay that way until the third, when both teams would add a run. In the top of the third Maxx Garret walked to begin the frame and moved to second on a Harris single. A base hit by Almadova would load the bases and Nate Hanson grounded into double-play that scored Garrett.

In the bottom half of the inning, Zack Burling walked with one out. A ground out moved him to second and he scored on a single by Willie Cabrera. That made the score 2-1.

In the top of the sixth, Tony Thomas hit his fourth homerun of the season to extend the lead back to two. Scarpetta had been pitching beautifully and it looked like this win was a lock, but the Blasters added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score.

Aaron Brill singled with one out and moved to second on a walk to Jake Taylor. Cory Morales was the next hitter, and his single plated Brill. That would be it for the Saints right-hander.

Cody Wheeler entered the game, but he could not hold the lead. A ground out scored Taylor and it was tied at three.

The game headed to the seventh tied. The Saints were not able to score in the top half, but Joplin took advantage in the bottom of the inning. Burling singled and Mitch Glasser laid down a perfect bunt to move Burling to second. Geraldo Valentin was intentionally walked and Willie Cabrera walked to load the bases. That brought Brill to the plate with a chance for a walk-off win. He would work the count to 2-1 before grounding to short. Tanner Vavra mishandled the ball and Burling scored to win the game for Joplin.

Mark Parish (1-1) earned the win, while Wheeler (0-1) took the loss. Harris and Almadova each had two hits for the Saints. Morales had two hits for the Blasters.

Boxscore

The St. Paul Saints looked to rebound in Game 2. The Saints would jump out to the lead in the top of the first again, but this time they would plate three. Joplin starter Jake Negrete retired the first two hitters of the inning, but the two-out rally would be his undoing. It would be the long ball that wreak havoc on him, as back-t0-back-to-back homeruns would put St. Paul up by three. The first pitch that Nate Hanson saw he would crush for his fourth homer of the year. Next up was Songco, who drilled a 1-2 pitch for his third homer of the season. Thomas followed and hit his fifth homerun and second of the day over the wall to make it 3-0.

In the top of the fourth St. Paul extended their lead to four. Willie Argo started the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice. Sam Maus followed with a single that brought home Argo and it was 4-0.

Alec Crawford was called into the emergency start because of the makeup games, and he was incredibly good early on. He allowed just a walk and a single through the first four innings, but in the fifth the Blasters would get three runs. Crawford retired the first hitter, but Morales reached when the third strike was dropped. Taylor walked and two batters later Burling continued his huge day, drilling his first homerun of the season. that made it a one-run game.

The Saints added a run in the sixth courtesy of Maus. A base hit by Songco got the inning started and he moved to second on a wild pitch. A double by Maus scored Songco and it was 5-3.

St. Paul had to turn the game over to their bullpen and, this time, they came up big. Chris Peacock pitched the sixth and struck out all three batters he faced. Ryan Rodebaugh came on in the seventh. He retired all three batters he faced, striking out two for his fifth save. Crawford (1-1) earned the win.

Songco finished with a perfect 2-2 at the plate with 2-runs scored and an RBI. Maus drove in two with two hits.

The Saints now head to Laredo for a three-game series. Mark Hamburger (3-0) makes the Game 1 start.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier