Matt Hoffmann
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The two best teams in American Association baseball faced off Monday night at CHS Field. The Saint Paul Saints entered the contest 24-5 but left 25-5 after defeating the 22-8 Sioux City Explorers. Unlike the Saints’ previous two victories—which were won by a combined 24-7—Monday’s season opener was a 5-4 one-run affair.“It’s nice to win close games…sometimes you have to win close games” Saints manager George Tsamis said after the game. St. Paul have outscored their opponents 38-8 in the first inning so far this season but it was the Explorers who jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first. Vinny DiFazio, who normally plays catcher, was planted at first base today due to injuries and it showed when he misjudged a routine infield pop up, putting the visitors on the board. “Sometimes when you have injuries guys have to play out of position” Tsamis mused adding “it was windy out there but it is what it is.” However, DiFazio would more than make up for his error in the first by crushing a three-run home run deep to left field to break the game open for the Saints in the bottom of the fifth. The right-handed batter loped out of the batters box, assuming the home run trot around the bases. “I was pretty sure (it was gone)” he said. “I felt good, I felt confident.” Saints starting pitcher Kramer Sneed notched his fifth win of the season with the blast and said “it takes the load off—its so much easier pitching with the lead.” While they never looked back, the hometown squad did give their manager a bit of a scare in the ninth inning when they allowed two runs and had to call in another pitcher for the final out but held on for a 5-4 victory. The Saints will now face Sioux City in the second game of a three-game series Tuesday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm. Just a reminder that you can join Twins Daily readers and writers at the Saints game on July 3rd. Not only does the $20 ticket include a reserved seat, but you'll get to tailgate in the brand new ballpark one-and-half-hours early at a catered picnic. Bring your whole family! We're down to less than 30 tickets available, so grab them today! Click here to view the article
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“It’s nice to win close games…sometimes you have to win close games” Saints manager George Tsamis said after the game. St. Paul have outscored their opponents 38-8 in the first inning so far this season but it was the Explorers who jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first. Vinny DiFazio, who normally plays catcher, was planted at first base today due to injuries and it showed when he misjudged a routine infield pop up, putting the visitors on the board. “Sometimes when you have injuries guys have to play out of position” Tsamis mused adding “it was windy out there but it is what it is.” However, DiFazio would more than make up for his error in the first by crushing a three-run home run deep to left field to break the game open for the Saints in the bottom of the fifth. The right-handed batter loped out of the batters box, assuming the home run trot around the bases. “I was pretty sure (it was gone)” he said. “I felt good, I felt confident.” Saints starting pitcher Kramer Sneed notched his fifth win of the season with the blast and said “it takes the load off—its so much easier pitching with the lead.” While they never looked back, the hometown squad did give their manager a bit of a scare in the ninth inning when they allowed two runs and had to call in another pitcher for the final out but held on for a 5-4 victory. The Saints will now face Sioux City in the second game of a three-game series Tuesday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm. Just a reminder that you can join Twins Daily readers and writers at the Saints game on July 3rd. Not only does the $20 ticket include a reserved seat, but you'll get to tailgate in the brand new ballpark one-and-half-hours early at a catered picnic. Bring your whole family! We're down to less than 30 tickets available, so grab them today! -
Try as they might, the hottest baseball team in Minnesota and the American Association couldn’t complete a three-run comeback in the 11th inning and fell to the Gary Southshore Railcats 8-5 Saturday night at their home, CHS Field. Saint Paul did manage an impressive rally in the ninth inning - at the time trailing 5-3 - to force extra innings behind a couple of Railcat errors and a sac-fly by brand new signee Mike Schultz. “That was nice for him” Saints manager George Tsamis said after the game.The teams went scoreless in the tenth inning, prompting international tiebreaker rules not seen at other levels of baseball. The last out of the last inning is put on second base and the inning is played like usual. “A lot of people don’t like it,” Tsamis said after the game but added “I don’t mind it…both teams have the same rules.” The Railcats took advantage of their opportunity in the eleventh—scoring on an off-target throw by relief pitcher Ryan Rodebaugh and then adding two more runs on a base hit and a sac-fly. There was a simple explanation as to why the Saints couldn’t make a second comeback. “[The Railcats] just made the plays. It was nice to come back, but in the end they just made the plays,” explained Tsamis. Saint Paul now “falls” to 23-5 on the season, if you can even call it that. They still have wins in seven of their last ten games and can take the series victory with a win over Southshore tomorrow. The Saints have an injury-riddled lineup at the moment; the club just placed outfielder Mike Kvasnicka on the DL where he joins teammate Jeff Shields. To counteract the injury bug the Saints will rely on heavy hitters Tony DiFazio and Angelo Songco who homered in Saturday’s matchup. The probable starters for the series rubber match are Dustin Crenshaw (4-1, 1.67 ERA) for the home side and Rene Solis (0-2, 2.67 ERA) for the visitors. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 on Sunday, though baseball fans should keep an eye on the skies in case of delay. Click here to view the article
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The teams went scoreless in the tenth inning, prompting international tiebreaker rules not seen at other levels of baseball. The last out of the last inning is put on second base and the inning is played like usual. “A lot of people don’t like it,” Tsamis said after the game but added “I don’t mind it…both teams have the same rules.” The Railcats took advantage of their opportunity in the eleventh—scoring on an off-target throw by relief pitcher Ryan Rodebaugh and then adding two more runs on a base hit and a sac-fly. There was a simple explanation as to why the Saints couldn’t make a second comeback. “[The Railcats] just made the plays. It was nice to come back, but in the end they just made the plays,” explained Tsamis. Saint Paul now “falls” to 23-5 on the season, if you can even call it that. They still have wins in seven of their last ten games and can take the series victory with a win over Southshore tomorrow. The Saints have an injury-riddled lineup at the moment; the club just placed outfielder Mike Kvasnicka on the DL where he joins teammate Jeff Shields. To counteract the injury bug the Saints will rely on heavy hitters Tony DiFazio and Angelo Songco who homered in Saturday’s matchup. The probable starters for the series rubber match are Dustin Crenshaw (4-1, 1.67 ERA) for the home side and Rene Solis (0-2, 2.67 ERA) for the visitors. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 on Sunday, though baseball fans should keep an eye on the skies in case of delay.
