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AA St. Paul Saints

Time Stands Still as Saints Blanked by Rusch 7-0

August 21, 2013 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (August 21, 2013) - The Saints were unable to muster a run for the second consecutive night as they fell to division rival Winnipeg by a score of 7-0 with 4,386 looking on at Midway Stadium. It was the first time since August 22 & 23, 2008 in Sioux City that the Saints were shutout in back-to-back games. This time it was the Goldeyes Matthew Rusch stifling the Saints for his first complete game shutout of the season. The Goldeyes scored in three straight innings to provide all of the support Rusch needed.

After Saints starter Dylan Thomas retired the side in order in the top half of the first, Winnipeg cashed in against the rookie in a big way in the second. Thomas walked the first two batters of the inning before allowing an RBI single to Josh Mazzola to open the scoring. Casey Haerther followed with another RBI single to make it 2-0 Winnipeg. The Goldeyes weren't done yet, adding three more runs on a fielders' choice groundout from Luis Alen, a sacrifice fly by Tyler Graham, and a run-scoring single by Fehlandt Lentini to take a 5-0 lead after the second inning.

Thomas was chased after just 1.1 innings, having allowed five runs on three hits with two walks. Dustin Klabunde relieved Thomas by working 3.2 innings out of the bullpen.

The Goldeyes got to Klabunde for lone runs in both the third and the fourth innings to extend the lead and provide the final margin of victory. Mazzola singled home Ryan Scoma in the third and then Yurendell deCaster drove in the final run with a fielder's choice groundout.

Rusch never allowed the Saints even a glimmer of hope, going the distance while allowing just three hits and one walk to go with nine strikeouts. The Saints did not have a runner reach second base at any point in the ballgame.

Over the last two games the Saints have had a total of seven base runners, five singles and two walks, and one runner has reached as far as second.

The Saints and Goldeyes will match-up in the finale of the four game series on Thursday night as the Saints RHP Anthony Claggett (7-4, 3.28) will take the ball opposite Goldeyes RHP Jason Jarvis (5-10, 4.12). It is the Dollar Dance presented by TopLine Federal Credit Union in which the first 1,500 fans in attendance receive a dollar to be donated to one of nine non-profit organizations at the ballpark. The game can be heard on Club 1220 AM and in the ballpark on 87.9 FM.

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