NL St. Paul Saints

Butler helps Tsamis to landmark victory, 9-7

May 25, 2005 - Northern League (NL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN – A late decision by St. Paul Saints manager George Tsamis helped pave the way for a big victory. Steve Butler, inserted into the lineup for regular second baseman Justin Hall at the last second, went 3-for-5, scored the winning run and drove in another as the Saints made it four wins in a row with a come-from-behind 9-7 triumph over Calgary Wednesday night in a Northern League game.

It marked the 300th career victory for Tsamis, the ex-Twins pitcher now in his third year with the Saints and his seventh overall, all in independent baseball before 5,681 fans at Midway Stadium.

Butler, an Apple Valley graduate who played his college ball at Concordia, was inserted into the lineup when Hall's back stiffened due to cold weather and a 30-minute rain delay. He responded with three singles, the last of which came in the seventh inning as the Saints rallied for four runs. With St. Paul trailing 7-5 and runners on first and third base, Butler beat out an infield grounder and moved to second on a throwing error. Both runners scored on the play to tie the game. Adam Olow then singled him home to break the tie for good at 8-7.

Billy Munoz hammered his third home run in two nights in the eighth to provide insurance.

St. Paul starter Bryan Gaal (1-1) struggled early, giving up a pair of home runs in the first three innings as the expansion Vipers jumped to a 5-0 lead. Gaal hung in for seven innings and gained the victory. Julio Perez pitched two scoreless innings to get the save.

Ben Moore (0-1), the second of three Calgary pitchers, absorbed the loss.

The teams conclude their only series of the season Thursday at 11:05 a.m. at Midway. Mike Meyer (0-1) will start for St. Paul with Brad Rogers (1-0) slated for Calgary.




Northern League Stories from May 25, 2005


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