St. Paul vs Sioux City X's Recap

Another series done another series won for the boys from St. Paul. The St. Paul Saints came out and took there 10th consecutive series in the American Association against the Sioux City Explorers.
On Monday night everything didn't start off to well for the Saints as Sioux City put up 2 runs in the top of the inning when Noah Perio Jr got to first on an error that allowed Michael Lang and Rene Tosoni to score for the X's. In the bottom of the inning DiFazio would single to center and Steve Nikorak would score to cut the lead in half, but the Saints wouldn't let up there as they would score 1 in the 4th to tie it and 3 in the 5th to take a 5-2 lead. The X's would try to come back in the 9th by tacking on 2 more but that's where it would stay Saints win game 1 5-4 in front of 7,690 fans. Kramer Sneed went an outstanding 8 innings, getting the win, allowing 2 runs (0 ER) on 5 hits, striking out 2 and walking none. Dylan Chavez took the Save, while Jeff Marquez took the loss going 7 innings allowing 5 runs (4 ER) on 7 hits, with 4 strikeouts and no walks.
On Tuesday Night the Saints would put up the first run in the 1st inning when Ian Gac took a sac fly to left and Steve Nikorak scored on it to make it 1-0 Saints. The X's would tie it up at 1 when Tommy Mendonca singled to right to score Noah Perio Jr, however it wouldn't stay tied for long as the Saints scored 3 runs in the 4th inning to make it 4-1. Sioux City would come back and put up 2 more runs in the top of the 5th before scoring 1 more in the 8th to tie the game. But in the bottom of the inning Mitch Elliott was walked to first 1 batter later Vinny DiFazio jacked the game winning home run to right field to give the Saints a 6-4 win. 7,798 fans came out to CHS Field to see the Saints take win number 26 on the year. Michael Zouzalik was credited with the win, Dylan Chavez the save, and Rob Wort the loss for the X's.
A special matinee game was played at 1:05 PM on Wednesday afternoon (the first of only 4 this season) but this was a very different feeling for Saints fans than normal. With no scoring through the first 3 innings the Explorers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 4th. The Saints would put 1 up in the bottom of the inning but Sioux City put up yet another in the 6th to make it 3-1 X's. In the 7th St.Paul would cut it down to 3-2 but the X's pulled it back up to 4-2 in the 9th. But the bottom of the 9th was very different, Rob Wort came in to pitch for the Sioux City Explorers  he struck out the first batter Joey Paciorek, then walked Robert Youngdahl. With Youngdahl on first Jose Flores came in to pitch for Wort, his first batter Dan Kaczrowski singled on him, then he struck out Mitch Elliott. With 2 on and the bases loaded Steve Nikorak got an infield single to load the bases but on that play Robert Youngdahl rounded 3rd and came back only to be tagged out on a baserunning error. St. Paul would lose that game 4-2 in front of 7,792 fans. Saints Ace Pedro Hernandez took the loss, while Jon Straka took the win and Jose Flores the save for the X's.
St. Paul now heads north to Newmann Outdoor Field in Fargo, ND to take on North Division rival Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in a 4 game series Thursday-Sunday. Game times are set for 7:02 PM on Thursday and Friday, 6:00 PM on Saturday, and 1:00 PM on Sunday. St. Paul will send RHP Robert Coe out to start against F-M's Taylor Stanton. You can catch the games LIVE on americanassociationbaseball.tv or listen to the Saints radio broadcast HERE on 1220 AM KLBB. Until next time remember Fun Is Good and GO SAINTS!