
Saint Paul Edges Grand Prairie 11-8
August 26, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release
Grand Prairie, TX. The bats finally came alive in an 11-8 slugfest to solidify the series win for the Saint Paul Saints over the Grand Prairie AirHogs.
The scoring started in the bottom of the first when Joseph Spiers led off with a single to right, followed by a Mike Conroy ground-rule double. Cesar Nicolas came up next and grounded out to the shortstop, but scored Spiers giving Nicolas his 100th RBI of the season.
After JB Tucker doubled in the bottom half of the second inning, Spiers followed with his second hit of the night to plate Tucker for a 2-0 lead. The 'Hogs continued to warm-up in the bottom of the third when Javier Brito and Chad Gabriel combined for back-to-back homeruns and 3 RBIs to bring the score to 4-0.
St. Paul responded in the top of the fourth inning when Jeff Eure singled to left, then advanced to 2nd on a passed ball. After a walk was issued to Scott Knazek, Steve Butler bunted, but reached 2nd on a bad throw, scoring Eure. Alex Fonseca followed up with an infield single, then advanced to 2nd on an error by the 2nd baseman, scoring Knazek and advancing Butler to 3rd. Josh Alley notched a base-hit to left center to score Fonseca and Butler and cut the deficit to 5-4.
The 'Hogs shot back with a quick RBI single by Brito in the bottom of the fourth to score Spiers after he had reached base on a fielder's choice and was advanced to 3rd on a single by Conroy.
The Saints were just getting started, continuing suit with a 2-run 5th inning, instigated by a walk issued to Jacob Butler and followed by a home run by Anthony Norman to tie the game at 6-6. The sixth inning found more runs for the Saints when Brent Krause was hit by a pitch, then stole 2nd and eventually 3rd after a Butler strikeout. The bases became loaded after a hit-by-pitch and two walks issued to Eure, Norman, and Knazek to score Krause. After a third pitching change brought in Justin Garcia, Butler singled to right, scoring Eure. Alex Fonseca flied out to right to end the inning, but not before the Saints went ahead 8-6.
St. Paul put together three more runs on three hits in the eighth and ninth before Grand Prairie attempted a comeback in the bottom half of the ninth inning in the form of a two run triple by Derek Nicholson before the game expired at 11-8.
Fonseca and Alley both notched 3-hit nights for the Saints and brought in 2 RBI apiece. Brito led Grand Prairie with a 2-for-3 night and three runs batted in.
American Association Stories from August 26, 2009
- American Association Recap - AA
- Saint Paul Edges Grand Prairie 11-8 - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Explorers Take Home Finale 4-2 - Sioux City Explorers
- Saints Alive and Well in 11-8 ComeBack Win - St. Paul Saints
- Mallett spoils regular season home finale - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Cats edge Pelicans in ninth 1-0 - Fort Worth Cats
- Dogs Suffer Third Straight Extra-Inning Loss - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Lightning strikes thrice for Wingnuts - Wichita Wingnuts
- Mallett Delivers Blow to Captains - El Paso Diablos
- Birds Left Stranded, Lose 4-2 In Road Finale - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Pelicans Vie For Playoff Spot - Pensacola Pelicans
- Festival of Beers Comes to Birdcage on September 19th - Sioux Falls Canaries
- American Association Recap - AA
- Captains hold on 4-3 to ensure meaningful weekend - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Saints march in to edge AirHogs - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Mattison Magnificent in Pelicans Debut; Pels Need Two Wins To Clinch Playoff Spot - Pensacola Pelicans
- Mattison Magnificent in Pelicans Debut; Pels Need Two Wins To Clinch Playoff Spot - Pensacola Pelicans
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