Milkmen Homer Three Times, Double Up Saints, 10-5
The Milwaukee Milkmen scored five runs in the top of the first, then hung on to defeat the St. Paul Saints, 10-5. Milwaukee clubbed three homers, including the fifth of the year by Jose Sermo, who also scored three runs. David Washington and Mason Davis also scored two runs a piece and Tim Dillard won his second game since joining the Milkmen. The victory reduced the magic number for clinching a playoff spot to two.
Brett Vertigan got things started for the Milkmen when he led off the game with his first homerun of the year. Saints starter Ryan Zimmerman retired the next batter but then gave up a base hit to Adam Walker II before walking Jose Sermo. David Washington followed with a single into right field that brought home Walker. A walk to Davis loaded the bases and Zach Nehrir walked to drive home Sermo. Next up was Christian Correa, who singled to center to score two, extending the Milkmen lead to five.
In the second inning, each team scored a run thanks to the long ball. With two down in the top of the first, Sermo blasted a shot for his fifth homerun of the year. In the bottom of the second, Alonzo Harris got that run back when he drilled his sixth homer of the year.
St. Paul started to dig into the lead in the bottom of the third when they scored two runs to cut the Saints deficit to three. Chesny Young doubled to start the inning and scored when Mikey Reynolds hit his sixth homer of the year.
In the top of the fourth, Dylan Tice hit his fourth homerun. That put the lead back to four.
St. Paul used the longball to pull back to within two in the bottom of the sixth. Harris walked to start the inning and scored when John Silviano hit his 11th homer of the year.
The Saints were within two, but the Milkmen put three runs on the board in the top of the seventh to lock down the win. A walk to Sermo and a single by Washington started the inning. That brought Davis to the plate, who lined a double into the gap in left, bringing both runners around to score. Davis moved to third on the throw home and came home on a sacrifice fly by Correa to make it 10-5.
Dillard moved to 2-0, allowing three runs in five innings for the victory. He struck out five.
Correa finished with three RBI. Davis drove in two and scored two runs. Sermo homered, walked twice, and scored three runs. The Saints got two RBI from Reynolds and Silviano.
By Robert Pannier
