AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Come Back from Break Refreshed, Win 4-2

Published on July 23, 2008 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (July 23, 2008) - Maybe all the St. Paul Saints needed was a little two day break. Following the All-Star break the Saints came out and looked refreshed as they defeated the Wichita Wingnuts 4-2 on Tuesday night at Midway Stadium.

The story of the night was Saints starter Mark Romanczuk who was in control for most of the night. After getting out of trouble in the first inning, where he walked the first two hitters he faced, but got a double play to end the inning, he cruised the rest of the way. Romanczuk went 7.1 innings allowing one run on five hits while walking two and striking out three as he picked up win number two on the season.

The Saints got on the board in the fourth inning when Ben Thomas led off with a walk. Pichi Balet singled him to third and Marcel Longmire followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

It remained that way until the seventh. Kevin Sullivan led off with a double to right. One out later Tim Brown doubled into the right field corner scoring Sullivan giving the Saints a 2-0 lead. Brown finished the night 3-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Two batters later Tony Mansolino blasted a two-run homer to left, his third of the season giving the Saints a 4-0 lead.

The Wingnuts put up a fight in the eighth. With one out Blake Gailen doubled down the third base line, chasing Romanczuk from the game. Mike Bille came out of the bullpen and gave up a single to Kevin Hooper, putting runners at the corners. He struck out Bub Bergstrom, but gave up an RBI double to Brenan Herrera and an RBI infield single to Vic Davilla. With the tying runs aboard closer Tony Pierce entered the game and got All-Star Michael Thompson to foul out to end the inning.

Pierce struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 14th save of the season.

The same two teams meet Thursday night at Midway Stadium in the second game of a four game series at 7:05 p.m. It is Irish Night presented by Mulcahy. The Saints send RHP Justin Lord (4-8, 4.06) to the mound against Wingnuts RHP Gustavo Mata (3-5, 3.99). The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network (check saintsbaseball.com for the channel in your area) and heard on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from July 23, 2008


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