GRAND PRAIRIE, TX (July 13, 2010) – Everything’s bigger in Texas including the Saints bats as they slugged 16 hits and defeated the winless Grand Prairie AirHogs 11-4 on Tuesday night at QuickTrip Park.

 

            With the Saints trailing 3-1 in the fourth the Saints sent nine men to the plate and tied their season high for runs in an inning with five. Brent Krause led off by being hit by a pitch. He then stole second, which tied him for the franchises all-time lead with current hitting coach Lamarr Rogers. Edgard Clemente, who went 4-5 with a run scored, singled Krause to third. Flint Wipke’s fielder’s choice scored Krause making it 3-2. Josh Petersen walked and Steve Mays doubled off the left field wall scoring Wipke and tying the game at three. Josh Alley then hit a sinking liner to center which Nook Logan dove for and missed as the ball rolled passed him allowing Alley to get a two-run triple. He scored on a two-out single from Sheldon which gave the Saints a 6-3 lead.

 

            With the score 6-4 in the sixth Alley walked, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a fly out and scored on Sheldon’s sacrifice fly to make it 7-4.

 

            The Saints scored two runs in the seventh and eighth to put the game away. In the seventh Wipke walked with one out and scored on Mays’ second double of the game. Mays then scored on Alley’s single making it 9-4.

 

            Wipke and Josh Petersen added RBI singles in the eighth to finish the scoring. Eight of the nine Saints collected hits with Alley going 3-5 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored and Sheldon, Wipke and Mays each collecting two hits.

 

            The same two teams meet Wednesday evening at 7:05 p.m. at QuickTrip Park in game two of the three game series. The Saints send RHP Kyle Foster (0-3, 3.20) to the mound against AirHogs RHP Ryne Tacker (3-2, 4.01). The game can be heard on Relevant Radio 1330.