AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Bounce Back to Take Down Explorers 5-2

Published on July 11, 2009 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (July 11, 2009) - After suffering a tough defeat last night, the St. Paul Saints bounced back to take down the Sioux City Explorers 5-2 Saturday night at Midway Stadium in front of 6,615 fans. Saints starter Brandon Kintzler, who was named to the American Association All-Star team earlier in the day, pitched 6.0 innings of very solid baseball. Kintzler yielded just two runs on eight hits while walking five and striking out none.

Even without recording a strikeout, Kintzler was able to work out of trouble all night long and pick up his league leading eighth win of the season. The Explorers had two men on with two outs in the second and fifth innings but Kintzler wiggled off the hook both times without allowing a run to score. Using a steady dose of two seam fastballs, the Saints all-star got plenty of ground balls and stranded 10 runners.

The Saints were able to keep momentum on their side the entire night. After the Explorers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Saints answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. After Josh Alley collected his first base hit as a member of the Saints, Jason Cooper put St. Paul on the board with an RBI double. Jacob Butler then followed with an RBI groundout to put the Saints on top 2-1.

Sioux City tied the ballgame at 2-2 in the fourth when Adam Hale scored from second base on a Brett Mieras infield single. But the Saints answered again right away, stealing the momentum back with a run in the bottom half. Steve Butler slapped a single into left field to drive in Jeff Eure and put the Saints back on top 3-2. That turned out to be all the offense they would need as the bullpen was spectacular.

Mike Bille tossed 2.0 scoreless innings while striking out four batters. Veteran closer Kerry Ligtenberg pitched a perfect ninth to secure the win for the Saints and record his twelfth save of the year.

Cooper gave the Saints an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Jacob Butler added another RBI with a fielder's choice groundout that plated Steve Butler in the eighth.

Tyler Meigs took the loss for Sioux City, falling to 0-5 on the season. Meigs went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits while walking six and striking out one.

The Explorers actually went up 1-0 just four batters into the game. Nick McCoola doubled and then scored on a Justin Nelson single. McCoola ended up with two hits while Mieras finished the night with three hits and an RBI for the losing Explorers.

The final game of the three game series is Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Saints will be celebrating The Toys of Minnesota, presented by 1919 Root Beer. The Saints will send RHP Mark Moriarty (1-2, 4.71) to the mound against Explorers LHP Trevor Fox (4-1, 3.22). The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network (check saintsbaseball.com for the channel in your area) and heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.




American Association Stories from July 11, 2009


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