7/21/2017-Saint Paul Saints 10 Salina Stockade 2

The St. Paul Saints found a cure for what ails them. On their schedule is a three game series against the Salina Stockade, who entered play 9-49, but who were coming off of a sweep of a three game series against the Sioux City Explorers. The Saints made sure the same wouldnt happen to them as they blasted four home runs and snapped a five game losing streak with a 10-2 victory over the Stockade on Friday night at CHS Field in front of 8,548.

With the Saints down 1-0 in the bottom of the second Nate Hanson started the inning with a double to straightaway center. With one out Kes Carter walked and that brought up Maxx Garrett who was one for his last 26 and did not have a hit in his last 16 at bats. He crushed a three-run homer to left, his third of the season, making it 3-1 Saints.

In the third Anthony Gallas, known for his power, blasted a solo shot over the left field wall, his 15th of the season, to make it 4-1.

It stayed that way until the sixth when the Saints put up five runs to blow the game open. Gallas led off with a single to center, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hanson flew out to right and Gallas bluffed tagging up. The right fielder Jimmy Hecks throw home went to the backstop, Gallas raced home from third and scored as pitcher Josh Hodges picked the ball up, threw back to the plate, but his throw was way off line. With two outs Carter and Garrett walked. Jon Kristoffersen made it 6-1 with an RBI single to right. Breland Almadova followed that with a three-run homer to left-center, his second of the season, to make it 9-1.

The Saints scored their final run in the seventh, a solo shot from Hanson, his eighth of the season, to make it 10-1.

Saints starter Benji Waite, the league leader in ERA at 1.93, did nothing to hurt that status. The lone run he gave up came in the second inning when Cody Coffman singled with one out. Jesse Baker doubled him to third and, with two outs, Waite walked Jordan Caillouet and hit Logan Trowbridge with the bases loaded.

Waite allowed just one more hit during his 6.0+ innings giving up one run on four hits while walking four and striking out five to earn his third win of the season and lower his ERA to 1.87.

The same two teams meet on Saturday night at CHS Field at 7:05 p.m. in game two of the three game series. The Saints send RHP Ryan Zimmerman (3-4, 5.40) to the mound against Stockade LHP Brian Smith (1-8, 7.62). We salute Mystery Science 3000 presented by The College of St. Scholastica. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and heard on BOB FM.

This game was played on 7/21/2017 at CHS Field