Blacksnakes End Losing Streak With Win in Home Opener

May 20, 2006 - American Association (AA)
St. Joseph Blacksnakes News Release


St. Joseph, MO-In professional baseball's return to St. Joe, the Sioux Falls Canaries and St. Joe Blacksnakes played a back and forth tilt that St. Joe would win with a pair of two-out runs in the seventh, 6-4. The win ended a five-game losing skid for the 'Snakes (2-6) and extended Sioux Falls' (3-5) losing streak to four straight.

Kansas City, MO native Mark Nussbeck started the home opener and, while he would pitch very well, he did not factor in the decision. Nussbeck struggled early, allowing single runs in each of the first two innings-though the second inning run was unearned-but would wind up with just one earned run allowed on three hits while striking out 10 in five innings. Nussbeck accomplished the rare feat of striking out four batters in one inning when he did it in the fourth.

Trailing 2-1, the 'Snakes would take the lead in the fourth with a three-run inning. A run-scoring single by Cody Nowlin and a two-out, two-run hit by Jefferson Infante put St. Joe ahead, 4-2.

That would have made a winner out of Nussbeck, but the bullpen allowed Sioux Falls to tie it up with a pair in the seventh. But a lead off walk to Mark Burke in the bottom half of the frame would lead to Sioux Falls' undoing.

The 'Snakes would use that to start a rally, culminating in Ben Thomas' two-out, two-run single that would put St. Joe ahead to stay, 6-4. Then J.C. Huguet came on in the eighth and retired the final six hitters to close out the win in the opener.

Jesen Merle (1-1) picked up the win in relief while Huguet garnered the team's first save. Sean Donlin (0-1) suffered the Sioux Falls loss.

So St. Joe can now look for it's first winning streak. RHP Andrew Edwards (0-0) will start for St. Joe, opposed by RHP Matt Petruskek (0-0) for the Canaries. Heartland Health Schedule Magnets will be given away and Heartland Sports Medicine Seat Cushions, as well. Actor Brian Doyle-Murray will also be in attendance. The first pitch is at 7:05pm with the gates opening at 6pm and our Heartland Health Pre-Game Show on the air at 6:45pm at www.stjoeblacksnakes.com.



American Association Stories from May 20, 2006


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