AA St. Paul Saints

Kintzler Dazzles, Saints Win First Game of Second Half 4-1

Published on July 6, 2009 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


WICHITA, KS (July 6, 2009) - St. Paul Saints manager decided not to pitch his ace, Brandon Kintzler, in the second to last game of the first half on Saturday night, instead saving him for the first game of the second half. The move paid off as Kintlzer dazzled and the Saints started the second half with a 4-1 win over the first half champion Wichita Wingnuts on Monday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Kintzler controlled the count all night long and each time the Wingnuts had a man in scoring position Kintzler had an answer. He retired the first two batters in five of the seven innings pitched and retired the lead off man in all seven innings. His only blip was a two out double to Steve Pearson in the second and an RBI single to Mike Thompson.

In the third the Wingnuts put up back-to-back singles by Greg Porter and Dustin Mohr with two outs, but Kintzler got Kelly Hunt on strikes. In the fourth after Thompson doubled with two outs, he got Brenan Herrera to ground out to end the inning. In his final inning of work, the seventh, Kintzler gave up a one out single to Thompson, Herrera grounded out to third, moving Thompson to second, but he struck out Nick Blasi to end the inning. Kintzler went 7.0 innings allowing one run on eight hits while striking out eight. Of his 21 outs, only one was retired on a ball in the air, a pop out to Steve Butler in the fourth.

The Saints gave Kintzler all the run support he needed in the second. Brent Krause hit his seventh homer of the season, a solo shot to lead off the second. Jeff Eure followed with a single to left and Andrew Schmiesing laid down a bunt single to third which Thompson threw away at first, putting runners at second and third. Two batters later Steve Butler brought home Eure on a groundout.

The Saints put up two insurance runs in the eighth with two outs. With Krause at first Eure doubled to the gap in left-center scoring Krause making it 3-1. Schmiesing followed with an RBI single to right.

The Saints bullpen did the rest with Mike Bille pitching a scoreless eighth and Kerry Ligtenberg pitching a perfect ninth to pick up his 10th save of the season.

The same two teams meet in game two of the four game series on Tuesday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Reed Dickert (2-2, 4.39) to the hill against Wingnuts RHP Gabriel Medina (6-2, 2.79). The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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