AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Look Gross in 7-1 Loss to Explorers

May 16, 2007 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (May 16, 2007) - The St. Paul Saints committed five errors in the field and were baffled by Sioux City Explorers starter Rafael Gross as the Saints lost their second chance this season at a series sweep with a 7-1 loss on Wednesday night at Midway Stadium in front of 4,399.

Gross was spectacular all night long and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The only hitter he allowed to reach base over the first five innings was Brian Sprout, whom he hit with a pitch.

The no-hitter ended on a bad hop single off the bat of Adam Bourassa in the sixth inning. A routine grounder to Julian Benavidez hit a rock and caromed away from him and ricocheted off his glove for the infield single. That was all Gross allowed as he left with one out in the seventh with a hand injury. He went 6.1 shutout innings allowing one hit while striking out four.

The Explorers capitalized on five Saints errors and they led it 1-0 in the second when they came through with three runs on two Saints errors. With two outs and a runner at first, Saints starter Matt Harrington looked like he was going to get out if the inning when Mike Richardson hit a grounder to Brian Sprout at short, but he was unable to come up with it. That opened the door for three runs to score on a Nick McCoola RBI single. Two batters later an infield single to short scored two runs and that put the Explorers on top 4-0.

That was all the Explorers needed as three pitchers combined on a two hitter. The Saints got their lone run on a Brent Krause triple and Adam Bourassa's RBI groundout.

Benavidez finished the evening 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Explorers while Adam Olow had his five game hitting streak and Marcel Longmire had his six game hitting streak snapped.

The Saints welcome in the St. Joseph Blacksnakes to Midway Stadium for a 7:05 p.m. start on Thursday. The Saints send LHP Jake Postlewait (0-0, 0.00) to the mound. The game can been seen on FSN North and heard on KBGY 107.5 FM.

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American Association Stories from May 16, 2007


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