AA St. Paul Saints

A Perfect 10 for the Saints in 6-3 Win in 11

Published on June 3, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, TX - The St. Paul Saints could have used Friday night's game against the Grand Prairie AirHogs as a measuring stick. The AirHogs came in with a nine game winning streak, but it was the Saints who came from behind to win 6-3 in 11 innings.

With the game tied at three in the 11th one of the newest members of the Saints and former AirHog Kevin Thompson doubled to lead off the inning. Jason Cooper followed with a two-run homer to right, his first of the season to give the Saints a 5-3 lead. The Saints weren't done as Ronnie Bourquin doubled with two outs and Jeff Howell followed with an RBI single for the winning difference. Bourquin finished the night 3-6 with a double, RBI and a run scored.

The Saints were only able to get it to extra innings by coming back from a three run deficit. With the Saints trailing 3-0 in the fifth Brandon Tripp extended his hitting streak to 12 with a double to right. With one out Bourquin singled him home.

In the sixth Thompson, the former Yankee and Oakland A, connected on a solo homer to left, his first of the season. Thompson began the season with the AirHogs, but was released after five games. AirHog starter Greg Smith, the former Major Leaguer with the Colorado Rockies and Oakland A's, went 6.0 inning allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five.

The Saints tied it in the seventh when Richard Mercado doubled, moved to third on a single by Bourquin and scored on Howell's sac fly.

A lot of credit goes to the Saints pitching staff. Saints starter Donald Brandt struggled in the first giving up five consecutive hits and three runs. David Thomas reached on a one out single, but was erased when he tried to steal second and Brandt picked him off. Greg Porter, however, followed with a single and John Alonso doubled him home to make it 1-0. Tyler Henley added an RBI triple and Jake Taylor followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Brandt settled down after that and got some defensive help in the fifth.

With a man at first and two outs Taylor doubled to left and Alonso tried to score from first, but left fielder Jake Krause relayed a throw to Adam Frost who threw a strike to Mercado to nail Alonso at home. Brandt went 6.0 innings allowing three runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out five.

The bullpen did the rest. Former Major League All-Star Chad Cordero, who along with Thompson signed with the Saints on Friday, pitched a scoreless seventh, Edwin Walker pitched 2.1 shutout innings allowing one hit while walking one and striking out three and Robert Manuel earned the win going 1.2 shutout innings allowing one hit while striking out two.

The same two teams meet in game two of the three game series Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at QuickTrip Park. The Saints send LHP Alain Quijano (1-2, 9.82) to the mound against RHP Jason Jennings (2-0, 0.90). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from June 3, 2011


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