The Chanhassen Red Birds lost to the Saints at Veteran's Field in St. Peter, 7-5, on Friday night.  The Saints scored 2 runs on 3 Red Bird errors with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning to steal the victory from a short-handed Red Birds line-up.

With the Red Birds leading 6-5, Adam Johnson returned to the mound in the 9th for his 4th inning of relief of starter Andrew Roy.  Johnson got the first two batters on a called third strike, and a pop out to SS, T. J. Gulden.   With a 1-2 count on Saints 2B-man Jordan Wilmes, Wilmes hit a grounder to short that T.J. bobbled to allow the runner to get to 1st.  Lead-off batter, Tyler Kaus also fell behind 1-2 and then looped a lazy pop behind T.J. that he tried to make into a circus catch, but the ball popped out of his glove and Wilmes ended up on 3rd with Kaus on first. 

With Saints on first and third and two outs, Adam again worked ahead in the count to LF C.J. Siewert, who hit a ground ball to short and a slight bobble combined with Kaus running at the crack of the bat, and the flip from T.J. to Bobby Krzmarzick for the final out to give the victory to the Red Birds was too close a call and the umpire, from 100 feet away, called the runner safe and the tying run scored from third.

Saints catcher Billy Hanson, C, then hit another grounder to short and the throw to first was wild allowing Kaus to score from 2nd base for the winning run.

The Red Birds had plenty of chances to score, getting 16 hits, but stranded 13 runners on base, with 7 in scoring position.  In the end, it was the costly errors that gave St. Peter life in the 9th inning, and to their credit, they finished the game with energy to claim the victory.

Saints pitchers, Jeremy Braun (SP) and Jesse Anderson (WP) combined for 15 strikeouts, and allowed 4 walks.  The Saints committed just 1 error.

Red Birds starter, Andrew Roy, pitched very well through 4 innings, allowing just 1 run on 1 hit.  But in the bottom of the 5th, and the Saints trailing 6-1, St. Peter got a walk, two doubles and two singles and scored 4 runs to bring them back into the game. 

The lanky left hander, Adam Johnson relieved Roy in the bottom of the 6th and closed the door on the Saints batters until the 9th inning.

The Red Birds were missing several players for the trip south, but new comers Brock Schindler and Steve Nibbe both acquitted themselves nicely.  RF Schindler got two timely hits to drive in three runs for the Red Birds.  DH Nibbe got three hits and scored a run in his 5 plate appearances. 

Justin Thompson got 3 hits and an RBI as did David Naughtin, breaking out nicely from a recent struggle at the plate.  Kyle Kemble, 1B, was 1-2 in 6 plate appearances, drawing 4 walks and scoring twice.  T.J. Gulden was 1-4 with a walk and scored twice.  Tom Bergner had 2 hits and Zach Swenson singled and scored in the 3rd inning.

For full stats, click on SCHEDULE on the left to find the game statistcs.

Next game for the Red Birds; at Home tonight (6/30) against the Glencoe Brewers for a 7:00 PM Start.

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