AA St. Paul Saints

Zimmerman Dazzles in Debut as Saints Crush Railroaders 10-2

Published on May 31, 2017 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


CLEBURNE, TX - The St. Paul Saints could have scored 100 runs on Wednesday night at The Depot at Cleburne Station and the story would have still been starting pitcher, and the man signed prior to the game, Ryan Zimmerman. He tossed 6.0 innings of one hit ball as the Saints cruised to a 10-2 victory.

Zimmerman, who was the ERA winner in the American Association in 2015, but struggled in 2016, was on his game most of the night. Zimmerman was released by the Sioux City Explorers, the team he spent the last two seasons with, right after Spring Training. The Saints, needing an arm, signed him and he did not disappoint. He worked around four walks and hurled 6.0 innings allowing one run on one hit while striking out three. In the first he walked the leadoff man Maikol Gonzalez, but got a double play off the bat of Devan Ahart. It was one of three double plays turned by the Saints.

Zimmerman's lone blip came in the third when he hit the leadoff batter Alex Polston. After a groundout moved Polston to second, Ahart ripped a single up the middle that scored Polston. That would be the only hit Zimmerman allowed on the night as he retired nine of the last 10 men he faced.

The offense made sure Zimmerman had enough support. Entering the game the Saints were hitting just .093 with runners in scoring position and two outs. They changed that on Wednesday. With one out in the third Danny Oh extended his hitting streak to seven games with a double to right-center. Oh finished the night 3-5 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored. With two outs Nate Hanson came through with an RBI single to right-center to make it 1-0.

In the fourth Hanson and company came through again with two outs. The Saints loaded the bases on two walks and a single. Breland Almadova then walked with two outs and the bases loaded to force in a run and make it 2-1. Hanson then knocked home a pair with a single to center making it 4-1. Brady Shoemanker followed with a two-run double to give the Saints a 6-1 lead. Hanson finished the night 3-5 with three RBI and a run scored while Shoemaker went 3-5 with a double and two RBI.

With the Saints up 7-1 in the eighth Oh doubled with one out and Almadova knocked him home with a single to make it 8-1.

The Saints put the finishing touches on in the ninth when Anthony Gallas hit a solo homer to right, his first of the season, and Oh drove home a run with a single.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the four game series on Thursday night at The Depot at Cleburne Station at 7:06 p.m. The Saints send RHP Jason Creasy (1-1, 8.59) to the mound against Railroaders RHP Santos Arias (0-2, 4.50). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.

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American Association Stories from May 31, 2017


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