AA St. Paul Saints

Cooper Goes Deep Twice As Saints Win 6-5

Published on August 7, 2009 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (August 7, 2009) - Facing the second worst pitching staff in the league the St. Paul Saints took advantage as Jason Cooper went deep twice and the Saints hung on for a 6-5 victory over the El Paso Diablos on Friday night at Midway Stadium in front of 5,617.

In the first inning Alex Fonseca was hit by a pitch and with one out Cooper drilled one over the right field wall for a two-run homer, his seventh of the season, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead.

In the second the Saints made it 3-0 as Jacob Butler led off with a double and with two outs scored on a single from Steve Butler. He finished the night 3-4 with a double and a run scored.

The Diablos got on the board in the third as they sent eight men to the plate. Kennard Bibbs led off with a single to right and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs Juan Camacho hit a sinking liner past a diving Brent Krause in right which scored Bibbs and sent Camacho to second. He would score on a sharp grounder from Jeff Vincent that went off the glove of a diving Alex Fonseca at second, cutting the Saints lead to 3-2.

Cooper came calling again in the third when he went the other way, a solo shot over the left field wall, his second of the night and eighth of the season, giving the Saints a 4-2 lead.

The Diablos tied it in the fourth as Saints starter Charlie Ruud walked back-to-back hitters to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt from Arnoldo Ponce moved the runners to second and third. A single to left from Jorge Alvarez made it 4-3 and a fielders choice from Juan Camacho scored the tying run.

The Diablos wasted little time taking their only lead of the night in the fifth when Hector Bernal doubled with one out and moved to third on a single from Eddy Rodriguez. After a walk to David Washington loaded the bases, reliever Kyle Foster struck out Bibbs. Ponce, however, would hit a grounder to Steve Butler at short, which he threw away, allowing a run to score and giving the Diablos a 5-4 lead.

The Saints tied it in the fifth courtesy of two Diablos errors. Andrew Schmiesing led off when he reached on a throwing error from second baseman Bernal. He moved to second on a ground out and went to third on a wild pitch. With two outs Josh Alley hit a grounder to third which Mike Provencher threw away allowing Schmiesing to score.

The Saints scored the final run in the sixth when Steve Butler led off with a double with two outs and scored on Fonseca's double.

Former Major Leaguer Jim Brower earned his first save as a Saints tossing the final 2.0 ininngs allowing one hit while walking one.

The same two teams meet in game two of the three game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Midway Stadium. The Saints are TBA and the Diablos send RHP Garvis Romero (3-1, 4.56). It is Petey vs. Pokey presented by Health Partners. The game can be seen on KSTC-TV, Channel 45 and heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from August 7, 2009


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