Sports stats



AA St. Paul Saints

The Perfect Birthday Present, Solter Named Pointstreak American Association Pitcher of the Week

June 4, 2018 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - What a birthday present for St. Paul Saints starter Matt Solter, who turns the ripe old age of 25 today. His week started with 7.0 shutout innings and almost ended with history. Matt Solter nearly had an historic day on Sunday, June 3. He carried a perfect game into the sixth and had a no-hitter for 6.2 innings. It's because of those two impressive starts that the American Association named Solter the Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 28-June 3.

During the week Solter didn't collect a win, as a matter of fact he was 0-1, but that was through no fault of his own as his offense failed to score a run at any point during his 14.2 innings on the mound (they won his first start of the week by scoring three in the 11th). Solter allowed just one run on seven hits in 14.2 IP while walking one and striking out 13.

During Solter's first start at Texas on May 29 he went 7.0 shutout innings allowing just four hits and striking out seven. He pitched out of three mini jams allowing one out doubles twice, in the second and fourth, but stranding both runners at third. In the seventh he gave up back-to-back singles with two outs, but struck out Meng Weiqiang to end the inning.

On Sunday, June 3 at Cleburne he was even better. He retired the first 18 batters he faced and had only one ball hit hard, a line out by Trevor Sealey to end the sixth. His only blemish on the day came in the seventh when he walked KC Huth to lead off the seventh and, with two outs and Sealey at second, he lost the no-hitter on a ground ball by Patrick Palmeiro that went to the left of the second base bag and into center field that scored Huth. Solter would go 7.2 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking one and striking out six.

On the season Solter is 1-1 with a 1.83 ERA in three starts. In 19.2 innings he's allowed just four runs on 11 hits while walking five and striking out 16 while opponents are hitting a miniscule .159 against him.

The now 25-year-old Solter got his start in the American Association in 2015 with the Gary SouthShore Railcats. He impressed the San Francisco Giants and had his contract purchased by the Giants organization in 2016 and spent 2016-17 with them. Last year Solter split time at Single-A Augusta and High-A San Jose. While with Augusta he went 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA in seven games (five starts). In 31.2 innings pitched he struck out 35 and opponents hit .248 against him. He struck out six or more in three of five starts and tossed 5.0 shutout innings of one-hit ball on April 14 vs. Columbia. He was promoted to San Jose on May 14 and went 5-2 with a 4.08 ERA in 14 games (seven starts). In 57.1 innings pitched he struck out 46 and opponents hit .261 against him. Solter won his first four decisions and dazzled in his first start allowing just one run in 7.0 innings against Visalia on May 18. Solter missed five weeks from June 8-July 17, but had a 2.89 ERA prior to the injury. As a starter he was 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in a hitter dominant league.

Solter spent the 2015 season with the Railcats and went 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 18 relief appearances. In 25.2 innings pitched he struck out 14 while opponents hit .343 against him.

The Giants signed him on April 15, 2016 and he pitched the entire season with Augusta where he went 4-6 with a 6.45 ERA in 14 starts. In 68.1 innings pitched he struck out 60 while opponents hit .315 against him. Solter had three separate outings in which he pitched 7.0 innings and gave up zero or one run. He had two separate 7.0 inning, three-hit shutout performances.

This is the first Pointstreak Pitcher/Player of the Week Award for the Saints in 2018. The Saints won two Player of the Week awards last season, but the last pitcher to win the award was Mark Hamburger, who won it three times in 2016.

Pointstreak provides technology driven sports management and business solutions designed to streamline operations while facilitating and enhancing the sport participant, fan and media experience. Pointstreak's product line includes solutions for professional, collegiate, and junior sports leagues as well as for amateur and recreational sports leagues. More information can be found on Pointstreak's website at www.pointstreaksolutions.com or www.pointstreak.com.

The Saints return home on Friday, June 8 to take on the Sioux Falls Canaries. It is Star Wars Night with an Xcel Energy Post-Game Fireworks show set to the music of John Williams.

Saints tickets continue to be a tremendous value. Tickets begin at $5 for the Treasure Island berm seating (available only on day of game in person at the box office), $6 for SPLASH Zone bleacher seats, $14 for outfield reserved, $16 for the drink rail and $18 for infield reserved and home plate reserved. Friday Home Games with Post-Game Fireworks are an additional $2 per ticket. Post-Game Fireworks Supershows (July 2 and September 2) are an additional $3 per ticket. Tickets purchased on the day of the game are an additional $2 per ticket. Children under the age of 12 and seniors 65 and older receive $1 off the admission price. Children under 2 that don't require a seat are free.

The Saints Box Office hours on non-game days are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. On game days, the Box Office will open at 9 a.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday and will remain open until 15 minutes following each game. Tickets are always available at saintsbaseball.com.

Check out the St. Paul Saints Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...

American Association Stories from June 4, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central