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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Return to Form with 13-2 Sunday Series Winner over Winner AirHogs

July 29, 2018 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


St. Paul, MN - After suffering one of their most lopsided losses of the season a night ago, the St. Paul Saints claimed their revenge against the Texas AirHogs with top-to-bottom dominance. In front of a crowd of 8,527 at CHS Field, the Saints pounded out 15 hits and scored 10 runs in the first three innings on their way to a 13-2 rubber game win. The victory improves the Saints to 37-29 and remain a 1.5 games out of first and 0.5 games out of a playoff spot.

The Saints onslaught began with a five-run first inning. Max Murphy initiated the frame with a single to center field, marking a career-high 13th consecutive game with a hit. Kyle Barrett walked and then, with one out, Brady Shoemaker would send a soft line drive into center field bringing home the first run. After a Zach Walters sacrifice fly, AirHogs starter Dan Quan began a string of walks. Dante Bichette Jr., Matt Snyder and Anthony Phillips would all earn base on balls, the last bringing home the third run. The rally was capped off by an Aaron Gretz two-RBI double just inside the first base line as the Saints produced all of the offense they needed.

However, insurance came in loud fashion during the next two innings. After a one-out double by Barrett, Burt Reynolds deposited his 15th home run (11 with St. Paul) off of the concessions stand in left-center field to extend the lead to 7-0. The emphatic blast also extended his current hitting streak to seven games.

In the top of the third inning, the AirHogs would break up the shutout with a two-out RBI single from Stewart Ijames, before a Chen Chen groundout ended their only real threat of the evening.

With the AirHogs outburst on Saturday still fresh in their minds, the Saints left no thought of a comeback in the series finale. With one out in the bottom of the frame, Phillips and Gretz both walked before Murphy belted his second home run of the season, a no-doubter over the berm in left field.

The Saints completed their scoring with two more in the fifth and one in the sixth. Another RBI single from Reynolds, followed by a Shoemaker single made it 12-1 after five.

An inning later, a Barrett base hit drove in Snyder to finish the Saints scoring. The AirHogs scored their unearned run in the seventh on a double from Ijames who drove in both Texas runs.

That supplied more than enough support for starting pitcher Matt Solter. It had been 69 days since his only win of the season - May 21st vs. Chicago - as the right-hander improved to 2-4 on Sunday behind 7.0 strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned). He also struck out five while walking two. Reliever Ryan Boelter tossed a scoreless eighth inning while Beck Wheeler breezed through a three-up, three-down ninth as the Saints recorded their fifth rubber game win on the season.

The Saints begin a four-game road series on Monday night at Newman Outdoor Field against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at 7:02 p.m. The Saints send RHP Eddie Medina (5-3, 2.55) to the mound against RedHawks LHP Will Solomon (7-4, 3.54). The game can be heard on ALT 93.3 FM.

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