Padres Defeat Twin Ports North Stars 5-2

July 10

By Max Mercy

DULUTH – Bob Baxton hit a go-ahead RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning and Chris Vendela threw a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts as the Duluth Padres defeated the Twin Ports North Stars 5-3 in an Upper 13 League amateur baseball game at Bulldog Park.

Baxton’s hit scored pinch runner Trevor Hicks from first base for the go-ahead run, and Baxton was awarded an extra base when the relay throw to third base sailed out of play.

Duluth had tied the score 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI infield hit by Noah Hobbs.

Vendela (4-2, 2.45 ERA) allowed one earned run. He walked two and had one hit batsman in his fifth complete game in six starts this season.

Losing pitcher Mike Swanson allowed two earned runs on six hits, three walks, and three hit batsmen. He had nine strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

Sean Cummings had two hits for the North Stars, as did Duluth’s Keith Gunderson.

Twin Ports is now 6-3 in league games.

Duluth (5-5 league, 10-11 overall) hosts the Duluth Xpress in a non-league game at Bulldog Park on Tuesday at 6pm.

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