AA St. Paul Saints

Historic Start for Saints as They Sweep Lemurs, Win 8-0 in Game Two of Doubleheader

June 1, 2015 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (May 31, 2015) - This is the 23rd season for the St. Paul Saints and they've never started a season like this one. With an 8-0 win over the Laredo Lemurs in game two of the doubleheader on Sunday evening at Uni-Trade Stadium, the Saints improved to 9-1 on the season, the best start in franchise history. The win was their fifth in a row and they are now 5-1 on their nine game roadtrip, the longest of the season.

The Saints offense got things rolling in the third when Steve Nikorak walked, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single from Anthony Phillips to make it 1-0.

In the third Ian Gac reached on a one out single. He moved to third on a double by Mike Kvasnicka. Angelo Songco was intentionally walked to load the bases. With one out Nikorak hit a grounder up the middle that Abel Nieves made a fine play on, but his flip to second was off line. Nikorak was credited with an RBI single and a second run scored on the poor flip. Phillips and Mitch Elliott provided RBI singled to give the Saints a 5-0 lead.

The Saints finished their scoring in a three-run fifth. With one out Gac doubled and then scored on Kvasnicka's single to make it 6-0. Two batters later Joey Paciorek launched a two-run homer to left, his first of the season. Gac and Kvasnicka each went 3-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Kvasnicka had an RBI.

Saints starter Pedro Hernandez did the rest tossing 5.0 shutout innings allowing three hits while walking two and striking out six. Two relievers, Alan Oaks and Chris Peacock, each pitched a shutout inning. It was the first shutout of the season for the Saints.

The Saints were 8-2 on three different occasions, in their inaugural season of 1993 in which they won the championship, 2006 and 2008.

The Saints will finish up the longest roadtrip of the season with a three game series against the Grand Prairie AirHogs beginning Monday evening at 7:05 p.m. at Kwik Trip Park. The Saints will send RHP Dustin Crenshaw (2-0, 1.39) to the mound against RHP Danny Gutierrez (1-0, 0.82). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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