Two of the teams that struggled in the 2015 American Association combined in the offseason to form the Texas AirHogs. They are quickly proving that two is better than one, a lesson the St. Paul Saints had to learn Monday night when the AirHogs pounded 15-hits in their 12-3 victory. Devon Rodriguez and Michael Miller led the way with 3-RBI each, helping to drop the Saints to their first three-game losing streak since 2014.

Both teams grabbed a run in the first inning. Ethan Carnes started for Texas and looked sharp, but the Saints would scratch out a run against him in the top half of the inning. Carnes retired the first two hitters, but Nate Hanson kept the inning alive with a single and moved to second on a walk to Angelo Songco. Tony Thomas then delivered a single that scored Hanson and St. Paul had the quick lead.

The AirHogs would get it right back against Saints starter Jeremy Strawn (2-1). The St. Paul right-hander retired the first two hitters of the inning, but then gave up a solo homer to Burt Reynolds to tie the game. That was Reynolds league leading eighth homer of the season.

Despite the homerun, Strawn looked good in the first, but he would struggle over the next five innings. In the second inning Rodriguez singled to start the frame and moved to second on an error that allowed Miller to reach base. A double by Cody Lenahan scored Rodriguez and Will DuPont scored Lenahan on a single. That gave Texas a 3-1 lead.

In the third they would plate two more, and it would be the long ball that would be Strawn’s undoing. Austin Gallagher singled with one out, and two batters later Miller drilled a two-run shot to extend the lead to four. That was Miller’s fourth homerun of the season.

A run in the fourth would extend the lead to five. A single by Brian Bistagne would be followed by a double by DuPont to make it second and third and no one out. Michael Hur walked to load the bases before Juan Sanchez had an RBI sacrifice fly to make it 6-1.

Trailing by five entering the fifth, the Saints bats came alive to get two of those runs back. Carnes retired the first batter of the inning, then Breland Almadova singled and Hanson followed with a single of his own. Carnes got the next hitter to fly out, and St. Paul needed a bit two-out hit. Thomas grounded to second, but an error allowed him to reach and both runners to score. That made it a 6-3 game.

The AirHogs came right back with a run in the bottom half of the fifth. A two-out double by Lenahan kept the inning alive and Bistagne singled to score the runner to make it 7-3.

In the sixth, Texas added three more runs and chased Strawn. Sanchez singled with one out and moved to second on a walk to Reynolds. Two batters later Rodriguez came to the plate and ripped a three-run homer that made the score 10-3. The shot was Rodriguez’s first of the year. Rodriguez would finish the game 2-4 with 2-runs scored and 3-RBI.

In the eighth, Miller would send home the AirHogs’ final two runs of the game. The Texas catcher was 2-5 with a run scored and 3-RBI. Reynolds scored 3-runs to go along with 2-hits and an RBI.

Carnes (2-0) earned the victory with seven outstanding innings. He allowed 8-hits and 1-earned run. He struck out 4 and walked 3. Strawn took the loss.

These two teams will continue their three-game series Tuesday night. Alec Crawford (1-10, 6.08) gets his third start for the St. Paul Saints. Palmer Betts (1-1, 3.64) goes for Texas. Game time is 7:05.

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By Robert Pannier