AA St. Paul Saints

Brandt Pitches Complete Game Three-Hit Shutout, Saints Blank Cats 4-0

Published on May 24, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (May 24, 2011) - A night after the two teams combined for eight homers, St. Paul Saints starting pitcher Donald Brandt restored order throwing his first career complete game shutout in a three-hitter as the Saints defeated the Fort Worth Cats 4-0 on Tuesday night at Midway Stadium in front of 3,208.

Brandt was in control all night long and threw 101 pitches, 76 for strikes using a combination of a fastball, curve and devastating change up. He didn't allow a runner to reach second until a one out double in the ninth by Cameron Monger. Brandt got the last two hitters, Brian Fryer and Derek Kinzler, to ground out to third. The only other hits Brandt allowed was a two-out single to Travis Metcalf in the first and a two out single by Marcos Rodriguez in the second. Rodriguez was erased trying to steal second. Brandt improved his record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 0.82. His only other complete game in his career came last season in the Golden League with Maui.

The Saints got Brandt all the run support he needed in the third inning. Richard Mercado singled to center and was sacrificed to second by Adam Frost. In a nine pitch at bat Justin Snyder finally singled to left-center scoring Mercado to make it 1-0. Mercado finished the night 3-4 with two runs scored.

The Saints got three insurance runs in the seventh. Ronnie Bourquin led off with a walk. The next two hitters, Mercado and Frost, tried to sacrifice, but instead reached on bunt singles. After Snyder lined out to first, Shane Costa made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly. Jason Cooper then hit a grounder to first that Trent Lockwood booted, and the ball ricocheted to the second baseman Kinzler, who threw the ball to first, but the pitcher never got over to cover and the ball went into foul territory. That allowed Mercado to score making it 3-0. Brandon Tripp drove in the final run of the game with a double down the left field line.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Kyle Zaleski (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Cats LHP Joel Kirsten (2-0, 4.50). It is Won't You Be My Neighbor Night presented by 5 Eyewitness News. The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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