Before heading out for a six-game road trip, the St. Paul Saints were looking to take the rubber match of their three-game set with the Sioux City Explorers. Former Explorer Ryan Zimmerman started for St. Paul looking for his third win since joining the team, and he pitched a gem, allowing just one run in 7-innings, while the red-hot Anthony Gallas delivered the big blow with a three-run double in the first as the Saints won, 8-1.

The Sioux City Explorers looked like they would get on top in the first inning. Michael Lang led the game off with a base hit and moved to second when Nate Samson singled two batters later. John Nogowski grounded into a fielder’s choice that put runners at the corners before LeVon Washington walked to load the bases. That brought Brandon Alvarez to the plate, who flew out to end the inning.

The Saints scored right away in their half of the first. Danny Oh led off with a base hit and Nate Hanson followed with a single two batters later. Brady Shoemaker walked to load the bases, bringing the red-hot Anthony Gallas to the plate. Mark Vazquez fell behind 3-1, and Gallas made him pay, lacing a double to the wall in left-center to clear the bases and give St. Paul the 3-0 lead. That extended his hitting streak to seven. Tony Thomas followed by grounding a single into left that put runners at the corners, and Gallas scored on a sacrifice fly by Tim Colwell to extend the lead to four.

After getting out of the bases loaded jam in the first, Zimmerman was in control. Including the last out of the first, he retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced, only giving up a single with two outs in the third.

In the fourth, the Saints gave their starter an extra insurance run. With one down, Colwell drilled a ball to the wall in right-center that he legged out for a triple. Todd Eaton struck out Maxx Garrett, but Jon Kristoffersen delivered the clutch two-out single to center that brought home Colwell to make it a 5-0 game.

In the sixth, Sioux City would finally score against their former starter.  Nate Samson doubled with one out and he scored when Washington delivered a clutch two-out hit to make it 5-1.

St. Paul responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Colwell singled and moved to second on a sacrifice by Garrett. Kristoffersen followed by lining a single into center that scored Colwell and the lead was back to five.

Ryan Zimmerman (3-0) would come in for the eighth, but an error and a walk to start the frame would end his day. He went 7-plus innings, allowing 5-hits, 3-walks, and an earned run. He struck out 4.

Vinny Nittoli came on and struck out Samson before giving up a walk to Nogowski. Once again, the Saints turned to their bullpen, bringing in Caleb Thielbar with the bases loaded and one down. He struck out Washington swinging before getting Alvarez to fly out to end the threat.

Three times the Explorers threatened in the game, and all three times the Saints responded in their half of the inning. The bottom of the eighth would be no different. Thomas and Colwell led off with back-to-back singles before Alex White retired the next two hitters. Danny Oh then walked, bringing Breeland Almadova to the plate. He worked the count full by fouling off two pitches to stay alive before delivering a bloop single to center that scored both Thomas and Colwell to make it 8-1.

Anthony Gallas finished the day 2-4 with a run and 3-RBI. Tim Colwell was a perfect 3-3 with 3-runs and an RBI. Jon Kristoffersen had 2-hits and drove in 2. For Sioux City, Nate Samson went 3-4 with a run scored.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier