AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Tie Franchise Record with 29th Road Win, Sweep RedHawks 15-4

Published on August 3, 2015 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


FARGO, ND (August 3, 2015) - The St. Paul Saints are going to need a bigger eraser this season as they continue to wipe out franchise records. With a 15-4 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on Monday night at Newman Outdoor Field, they tied a franchise record with their 29th road win, a record set in 2007, improved to 52-16 on the season, swept their sixth series of the season and increased their lead in the North to 20.5 games.

The story of the game may have been Steve Nikorak, who was hit in the face by a fastball from Tyler Herron of the RedHawks on June 28 at Newman Outdoor Field. It was the first time the two faced each other since that moment. In the first two at bats Nikorak walked in the second and struck out in the third. In the fifth, however, Nikorak hit a two-run opposite field homer, his third of the season. With Herron out of the game Nikorak went deep again in the ninth off of reliever Jonathan Chudy, a solo shot to right. It was the first two homer game of Nikorak's career as he finished 2-4 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored.

The Saints offense was firing on all cylinders scoring seven runs over the first two innings. In the first Vinny DiFazio singled with two outs. Angelo Songco was hit by a pitch and Mike Kvasnicka doubled them both home to give the Saints a 2-0 lead.

After a Zach Penprase leadoff homer in the bottom of the first made it 2-1, the Saints exploded for five runs in the second. Nikorak led off with a walk and Anthony Phillips tripled him home to make it 3-1. Dan Kaczrowski's groundout scored Phillips to make it 4-1. Kaczrowski finished the night 0-5 ending his career high 16 game hitting streak. Alonzo Harris then reached on an error by third baseman Tyler Oldham. Willie Argo and DiFazio walked to load the bases and Songco brought all three home with a bases clearing triple to make it 7-1.

With the Saints up 7-2 in the fifth Nikorak's two-run homer made it 9-2. With two outs Harris and Argo walked and DiFazio doubled them both home to make it 11-2. DiFazio finished the night 3-4 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored. He now has 64 RBI on the season, 16 shy of tying the franchise record.

Saints starter Pedro Hernandez earned his seventh win of the season by going 6.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three.

The Saints have Tuesday off and begin a three game series against the Lincoln Saltdogs on Wednesday night at CHS Field beginning at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Robert Coe (6-3, 3.25) against LHP Kevin McGovern (4-4, 4.95). The first 1,000 fans will receive a King Boreas bobblehead presented by SPIRE Credit Union. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in the Twin Cities area, heard on Club 1220 KLBB and in the ballpark on 97.9 FM.

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American Association Stories from August 3, 2015


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