The Sioux City Explorers took the first two games of this three-game set with the St. Paul Saints, and so the Saints were trying to get back on the winning side of the standings, especially after falling out of first place overall in the American Association. That came Thursday night, as Anthony Gallas and Nate Hanson both homered, and Mark Hamburger won his league-leading seventh game of the year in the 6-3 victory.

After the Explorers jumped out in front the previous two nights, St. Paul was looking to get the lead in this contest, and that is what they did in the bottom of the first. Sioux City starter Cody Forsythe was able to retire the first two batters of the inning, but Hanson gave his team the lead when he clubbed his fifth homerun of the season to make it 1-0 Saints.

This would remain a tight affair through the first three innings, but in the fourth the Saints would extend their lead to three. Brady Shoemaker led off the inning with a base hit, and scored when Anthony Gallas clubbed his seventh home run of the season to make it 3-0.

In the top of the fifth, Sioux City responded with two runs of their own. Hamburger was able to retire the first batter of the inning, but back-to-back singles by Tony Campana and Nate Samson got the rally started. Hamburger then struck out Jayce Ray, but Brian Fortier singled to score Campana, before LeVon Washington followed with a base it of his own that brought home Samson and the lead for St. Paul was just one.

In the bottom of the six, the Saints restored their lead back to three. The first two batters of the inning were retired, but Tony Thomas kept the inning alive with a sharp single in the left field. Thomas then stole second base and scored when Tim Colwell drilled a a double into right field. Maxx Garrett followed with a base hit up the middle that scored Colwell and the score moved to 5-2.

The Explorers got one of those runs right back in the top of the seventh. Campana led the inning off with a double and moved to third on a fly out. With two down, Fortier doubled to center field to score Campana and the lead for St. Paul was just two.

However, in the bottom of the seventh they quickly restored the three-run lead. Hanson was hit by a pitch with one down, and moved to third on a double by Shoemaker. A sacrifice fly by Gallas brought Hanson home and it was 6-3. That would be the final.

Mark Hamburger (7-1) went 6.2-innings, allowing 10-hits, a walk, and 3-runs. He struck out 4. The Saints got 1.1-innings of perfect relief out of Caleb Thielbar, before turning the game over to Seth Rosin. He pitched a perfect ninth-inning, striking out two for his ninth save of the season.

Anthony Gallas led the St. Paul offense, going 1-3, with 3-RBI. Brady Shoemaker was 3-4 with a run scored, and Nate Hanson scored 2-runs. For Sioux City, Tony Campana was 2-5 with 2-runs scored.

The Gary-Southshore RailCats come to St. Paul Friday night to begin a three-game series versus the Saints. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier