AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Power Their Way to a 5-3 Win Over X's

Published on August 2, 2009 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


SIOUX CITY, IA (August 2, 2009) - The St. Paul Saints are third in the American Association in long balls and used that to their advantage as they clubbed three homers, two by Jacob Butler, en route to a 5-3 victory over the Sioux City Explorers on Sunday night at Lewis and Clark Park.

In the first inning the power started with Jason Cooper who drilled a solo homer over the right field wall, his sixth of the season, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.

Saints starter Charlie Ruud, who entered the game 13-1 in his career against the Explorers, had another strong start, his second since coming back from retirement. In the third, however, Brett Mieras led off the inning with a double to left. Tyler Meigs laid down a sacrifice bunt and catcher Jeff Eure's throw was wide of Alex Fonseca covering the bag and went down the right field line allowing Mieras to score and sending Meigs to second. After Nick McCoola's groundout moved Mieras to third, Derek Schermerhorn's sacrifice fly gave the Explorers a 2-1 lead.

The Saints got both runs back in the fourth when Josh Alley walked and Jacob Butler hit his first homer of the night, a two-run shot over the left-center field wall, his 14th of the season and first since July 18.

The turning point in the game occurred in the bottom of the fifth when Ruud got out of a bases loaded, one out jam. With one out Mieras walked, Meigs singled and McCoola walked. Schermerhorn tried to bunt home a run, but Ruud pounced off the mound and underhanded to the plate to get the force out. Ruud then struck out Alex Llanos to end the inning.

The Saints took a 4-2 lead in the sixth when Josh Alley led off with a single to left, stole second and with two outs, scored on Anthony Norman's single to right.

The Explorers got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Justin Nelson doubled off the glove of the center fielder Norman. With two outs Jason Colson doubled to left-center scoring Nelson making it 4-3.

Ruud went 6.2 innings allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits while walking four and striking out two picking up his sixth win of the season.

Jacob Butler then hit his second homer of the night, a solo blast to left in the eighth, to give the Saints an insurance run. It was the third time this season Butler had homered twice in a game and the second time at Lewis and Clark Park. He finished the night 2-4 with two homers, three RBI and a run scored.

The Saints have Monday off and return to Midway Stadium for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Wichita Wingnuts in game one of a three game series. The Saints send RHP Mitch Wylie (7-5, 4.48) to the mound against Wingnuts RHP Derek Blacksher (7-2, 3.36). It is Modd Enhancer's Night presented by Taiyo. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network (check saintsbaseball.com for the channel in your area) or heard live on Relevant Radio 1330.

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American Association Stories from August 2, 2009


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