AA St. Paul Saints

Every Starter Collects a Hit, Saints One-Hit AirHogs, Win 7-1

Published on June 4, 2019 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


GRAND PRAIRE, TX - An infield single was all that kept the St. Paul Saints from their second no-hitter in the last five games. On top of that, not one ball reached the outfield all night. Every starter collected a hit, they pounded out a season high 16, and won for the third consecutive game, 7-1 over the Texas AirHogs on Tuesday night ay AirHogs Stadium.

In the first inning the AirHogs scored their lone run and got their only hit. Josh Prince led off against Saints starter Nick Belzer with a walk. With one out Stewart Ijames hit a chopper to third that Blake Schmit charged, had the ball go off the heel of his glove, Schmit picked up the ball, but his throw to first was too late. The play was ruled a hit and the speedy Prince raced to third on the throw to first. Jonathan Maroney's ground out to second scored James to make it 1-0 AirHogs.

From that point on the AirHogs managed just one more base runner, a walk to Prince with two outs in the third. Belzer retired the final 13 men he faced going 7.0 innings allowing one run on one hit while walking two and striking out seven.

Ryan Schlosser pitched 2.0 perfect innings of relief striking out three as they Saints retired the final 19 hitters of the game. Not one ball left the infield as there were 13 ground outs, two pop outs, a line out and 10 strikeouts. One other out was recorded on a pickoff.

The Saints offense had their most productive night of the season with a total of 16 hits. With two outs in the third Burt Reynolds ripped a double to left. Devon Rodriguez smacked an RBI double to left tying the game at one. After a walk to Jeremy Martinez, Josh Allen came through with an RBI double giving the Saints a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth Dan Motl led off with a single to center and scored on Max Murphy's double to right making it 3-1.

In the fifth the Saints tacked on two more as Rodriguez led off with a single to right. He finished the night 3-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Jeremy Martinez' double to right moved Rodriguez to third. With two outs Motl lined a single to center scoring both runs giving the Saints a 5-1 lead. Motl finished 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

In the sixth, Schmit led off with a double and Brady Shoemaker made it 6-1 with an RBI single to center.

The Saints final run came in the ninth when the Saints loaded the bases as Motl reached on a fielder's choice, Murphy singled and Schmit walked. Shoemaker added his second RBI of the night with a single to center.

The Saints had five different players with two hits and Rodriguez with three. They also pounded out six doubles of their 16 hits. They did leave a franchise tying 16 men on base, tying a nine inning record set June 19, 2003 at Winnipeg.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three-game series on Wednesday night at AirHogs Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Ryan Zimmerman (1-0, 1.50) to the mound against AirHogs RHP Kevin Hilton (0-2, 4.80). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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American Association Stories from June 4, 2019


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