AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Start Off Second Half on Right Foot With 8-2 Win

Published on July 1, 2008 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (July 1, 2008) - A new month, a new half and a new life for the St. Paul Saints as they started off the second half with a victory over the first half champion Sioux Falls Canaries 8-2 on Tuesday night at Midway Stadium in front of 5,065.

One of the best hitters in the league, Pichi Balet, who had missed over a month of the season with a broken bone in his foot, returned and made an immediate impact. Josh Womack led off the bottom of the first with a single to right-center and advanced to second on a fielding error by rightfielder Ryan Grant. Womack finished the night 3-5 with a triple, two RBI and three runs scored. Three batters later Balet singled him home to make it 1-0. He finished the night 2-4 with an RBI.

In the second the Saints capitalized on another error by Grant. With one out Ryan Priddy singled to left. Two batters later, the newest Saint, Tony Mansolino singled to right and the ball was misplayed by Grant allowing Priddy to score making it 2-0.

Kevin Sullivan came calling in the third when he hit an opposite field solo homer to right, his seventh of the season, and second in as many games to make it 3-0.

Mansalino tacked on his first RBI in a Saints uniform in the fifth. After a one out walk to Womack, Mansolino drove him home with a double to right to make it 4-0. Mansolino finished the night 2-4 with a double and two RBI.

That was all the offense the Saints pitching staff needed. Charlie Ruud earned his league leading ninth victory going 5.0 shutout innings allowing six hits while walking one and striking out one. He left the game after the fifth with a shoulder injury.

The bullpen did a solid job with Mark Romanczuk going 2.2 innings allowing two runs on two hits while walking three and striking out three and Mike Bille pitched a perfect 1.1 innings.

The same two teams play game two of the three game series on Wednesday night at Midway Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Mitch Wylie (0-2, 3.60) to the mound against Canaries RHP Ben Moors (5-3, 5.65). It is Irony Awareness Night. The game can be heard on the Saints Cable Network (check saintsbaseball.com for the channel in your area) and heard on Relevant Radio 1330.

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