AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Hammered By Explorers for Second Straight Night, Lose 11-5

Published on July 23, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - If the St. Paul Saints were hoping to bounce back after getting beaten badly on Friday night the first inning on Saturday night at Midway Stadium didn't help as a four run first by the Sioux City Explorers set the stage for an 11-5 loss in front of 5,233.

Saints starter Matt Long, who has allowed two runs or less in eight of 14 starts, but five or more runs in the other six, got hit around in the first inning. Dustin Jones led off with a double and with one out he walked Derek Schermerhorn. Kent Sakamoto's single scored Jones to make it 1-0. Ray Serrano followed with an RBI double to make it 2-0. With two outs Brett Flowers ripped a two-run single and the Explorers left the first with a 4-0 lead.

With the Saints trailing 4-1 in the fourth Long gave up three straight singles to TJ Bohn, Flowers and Ryan Priddy, the latter driving in a run to make it 5-1. With one out and runners at first and second Jones hit a hot shot to short that looked like a double play ball, but Steve Mays booted the ball and the bases were loaded. Wally Backman Jr.'s sac fly made it 6-1.

The Saints tried to make a game of it in the bottom of the fourth when Argelis Nunez led off with a walk. With one out Alex Garabedian doubled him to third. With two outs Mays drove them both home with a single to make it 6-3.

The good feelings didn't last long as the Explorers put up a four spot in the fifth as the first four batters each singled off of Long, removing him from the ballgame. He lasted just 4.0 innings allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits.

The lone bright spot for the Saints was Adam Frost who finished the night 4-5 with a double, RBI and a run scored, extending his hitting streak to a career high 12 games.

For the second consecutive game the Saints allowed 17 hits and have now allowed 35 runs in their last three games, all losses and have lost six straight at home, the longest such streak since late August of 2007.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at Midway Stadium. The Saints send LHP Donald Brandt (6-2, 3.84) to the mound against RHP Kyle Wright (3-5, 5.12). It is Baseball For All Day as Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach a men's baseball team and first woman to throw batting practice to Major League hitters, will be hosting a clinic for girls at 11:45 a.m. The game can be heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from July 23, 2011


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