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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Pound out 14 Hits in 7-1 Victory over Dogs

June 17, 2018 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ROSEMONT, IL - In his first professional start St. Thomas product Jake Smith didn't waste the opportunity. He pounded out three hits, had two RBI and the rest of his teammates followed suit as the Saints hammered out 14 hits total en route to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Dogs at Impact Field on Sunday afternoon.

With the Saints trailing 1-0 in the third JJ Gould roped a single to left. That brought up Smith who grounded a single into right past a diving second baseman Edwin Arroyo. The hit was the first of Smith's career. Kes Carter then reached on catcher's interference to load the bases. Max Murphy gave the Saints a lead they would not relinquish with a two-run single to center giving the Saints a 2-1 lead.

In the sixth the Saints busted the game open as Noah Perio Jr. led off with a single to right. With one out JJ Gould walked and starter Connor Root departed for reliever Jared Carkuff. That didn't bother Smith who doubled off the base of the wall in right driving in Gould to make it 3-1. Carter then followed with a three-run homer to left, his fourth of the season, giving the Saints a 6-1 lead.

In the seventh, Smith came calling again as Dante Bichette Jr. led off with a single to center. Perio Jr. singled to left moving Bichette Jr. to second. After back-to-back strikeouts, Smith came through with an RBI single to right-center for the final run of the game. Smith went 3-5 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored.

John Straka, who the Saints signed right before the game, was strong on the mound going 5.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while walking four and striking out one. The lone run he gave up came in the first when he loaded the bases as the first three hitters reached. Straka, however, got Joe Benson to ground into a double play that scored a run, the only one Straka gave up on the day.

The Saints bullpen was strong once again as Mike Devine, Jake Matthys, and Ken Frosch threw 4.0 hitless, shutout innings of relief.

The Saints head to Haymarket Park and take on the Lincoln Saltdogs in a three-game series beginning Monday night at 6:45 p.m. The Saints send RHP Ryan Zimmerman (0-0, 0.93) to the mound. The game can be heard on Alt 93.3 FM.

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