Saint Paul, Minnesota - It was a combination of offense, defense, and a strong pitching performance from Saints pitchers that lifted the Saints past the Indianapolis Guardians by a score of 4-1 on Thursday night. The Saints improved to 67-49 on the season, which is second place in the International League West standings. 

The Saints offense got on the board in the first. Brooks Lee walked and Anthony Prato singled, which allowed Lee to advance to third. Next, Kyle Garlick doubled on a line drive to left. This allowed Lee to score, and the Saints took a 1-0 lead. 

The Saints added on in the second. Gilberto Celestino walked and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. singled. Later in the inning, Brooks Lee hit a bases clearing double. St. Paul took a 3-0 lead. 

The score would stay this way until the fifth. Anthony Prato led off the inning with a solo home run. This went to straight center field off the batter's eye. This was his eighth home run of the season and gave the Saints a 4-0 lead. 

In the eighth, Grant Koch walked with one out for Indianapolis. Canaan Smith-Njigba doubled, which brought home Koch. Kody Funderburk came into the game for the Saints and shut the door the rest of the way. Funderburk picked up his fourth save of the season and the Saints held on for a 4-1 win. 

The Indianapolis Guardians and St. Paul Saints meet in game four of a six-game series on Friday night at CHS Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Indianapolis will send RHP Luis Ortiz (4-4, 4.15) to the mound while the Saints are TBA. The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, MiLB.TV, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.