Saints Power Past Redhawks For Series Win

 

FARGO, N.D. — Despite a comeback effort that got the RedHawks within three runs of the St. Paul Saints on Wednesday night at Newman Outdoor Field, Fargo-Moorhead couldn’t find the runs it needed in the ninth as St. Paul walked away with an 8-5 win in front of a sellout crowd of 4505 fans at Newman Outdoor Field on the Fourth of July.

The Saints scored six runs in the opening three innings and never looked back on their way to evening the season series with the RedHawks at 3-3.

The Saints were the winners in a war of bullpen attrition as the two teams’ starters combined to throw just 2.2 innings tonight. Brandon Barker threw two innings in his first start for the RedHawks but gave up six runs in that span — including a three-run home run to St. Paul’s Burt Reynolds in the first inning.

On the other side, St. Paul starter Ryan Zimmerman didn’t even last an inning. However, he surrendered only one run and his battery mate Jake Matthys came on to clean up the mess and hold the RedHawks to the single tally in the first inning.

Matthys got the win after going three innings in relief and giving up just two runs on four hits. Benji Waite performed admirably for the RedHawks in five relief innings, giving up two runs on one hit while striking out four, but he didn’t get the run support he needed for a come-from-behind win. Anthony Pacillo finished the game out for the RedHawks with two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth.

On the offensive side, Tim Colwell had one of his hottest nights at the plate tonight, slicing three consecutive doubles on his way to a three for four night with two runs scored and an RBI. Yhoxian Medina was the only other RedHawks player with two hits tonight.

The RedHawks fall to 21-22 on the year and remain in the third spot of the North Division standings, two games behind the Saints for the division lead.

Fargo-Moorhead begins a four-game series with the Winnipeg Goldeyes tomorrow night at Newman Outdoor Field. The series will be the first meeting between the two northern rivals this season.