ST. PAUL, MN (July 28, 2010) – If the St. Paul Saints are going to make the playoffs they will have to play well against the team with the best record in the league, the Sioux Falls Pheasants. They got off on the right foot Wednesday night at Midway Stadium with a 10-3 victory in front of 5,517.

 

            While the offense struck early and often and eight of the nine Saints collected hits it was the pitching by starter Zach Peterson that was most impressive. He shut down the league’s best offense and he got a little help from his defense. The first batter of the game, Joe Anthonsen, hit a sinking fly ball to center in which Brent Krause made a diving catch on to rob Anthonsen of a hit. The next batter, Tim Hutting, drove one to deep center that Krause tracked down. Those two plays helped build the confidence of Peterson.

 

            The only big trouble Peterson got into was in the fourth and it came with two outs as he gave up an infield single to Trevor Lawhorn and an RBI triple to Hunter Jobes. After back-to-back walks to the bottom two hitters in the order loaded the bases he got Anthonsen to ground out to end the inning. Peterson went 6.0 innings allowing one run on five hits while walking two and striking out seven to earn his sixth win in a row as a starter and improve to 6-3 on the season.

 

            The offense did the rest and it started in the first. Josh Alley walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher Eddy Rodriguez. Ole Sheldon drove home the first run of the game with a single to center giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.

 

            In the third Brandon Carter walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sheldon came through again with an RBI single to make it 2-0. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out double from Krause making it 3-0.

 

            With the Saints up 3-1 in the fourth Josh Petersen hit a solo homer to left, his first of the season to make it 4-1. Two batters later Alley followed suit with a solo shot to left, his sixth of the season making it 5-1.

 

            In the sixth Flint Wipke led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Petersen. With two outs the Pheasants elected to intentionally walk Alley to get to Carter. He made them pay by roping a two-run double to right-center making it 7-1.

 

            With the score 7-3 in the eighth the Saints put the finishing touches on the victory sending nine men to the plate. Wipke led off with a single and with one out Steve Mays singled to right. Alley came through with an RBI single to make it 8-3. Alley finished the night 2-3 with a homer, two RBI and four runs scored. After Carter singled Sheldon drove home two with a single to left. Sheldon finished the night 3-5 with four RBI and a run scored.

 

            The same two teams meet in game two of the four game series on Thursday night at Midway Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Jason Godin (6-2, 4.73) to the mound against Pheasants LHP Ryan Rodriguez (7-4, 4.81). It is Irish Night presented by Leinenkugel’s and Ahern’s Irish Pub.