The St. Paul Saints hosted the Winnipeg Goldeyes Sunday afternoon in the first game of a three-game series. These two teams played each other earlier this season, with the teams splitting the four-game series. They also are the two best teams in the North division of the American Association.

The Saints sent Kramer Sneed to the mound. Sneed has been one of the aces of the Saints staff this season, compiling a 9-1 record with a 2.56 ERA. He struggled in the first inning, as Adam Heisler reached on a leadoff single. He advanced to second when Casio Grider sacrifice bunted to Sneed. After getting ahead of the next batter, Casey Haerther, he proceeded to walk him. That set up a Reggie Abercrombie RBI single to right field to give the Goldeyes a 1-0 lead. After Josh Mazzola flew out, Brad Boyer hit an RBI single to centerfield to score Haerther. Abercrombie and Boyer both advanced to third when Alonzo Harris misplayed the ball. That would be all that Winnipeg would get in the inning as Sneed got Ryan Babineau to fly out to end the inning.

Winnipeg picked up right where they left off as Heisler hit a two out single to left field. He then stole second base. Sneed would get out of the inning without the run scoring when Grider struck out swinging to end the second inning. The Saints would score one run in their half of the second when Angelo Songco led off the inning with a stand up triple off the center field wall. He scored when Mike Kvasnicka grounded out to second base. Joey Paciorek then followed with a single to right field. That set up Ryan Lashley for a RBI double that fell just inside the left field line, allowing Paciorek to score.

Winnipeg scored two more in the third inning when Reggie Abercrombie singled to left field with one out. He then stole second base, then scored when Boyer singled to center field. Boyer then scored when Babineau hit a fly ball to right field that Kvasnicka never saw. Babineau ended up with a double, while Boyer came across to give Winnipeg a 4-2 lead.

The Saints had a scoring chance in their half of the third, which started with a two-out single by Vinny Difazio. Songco then followed it up with a single to right field. However, the Saints could not get any runs off it as Kvasnicka flew out to left field to end the inning.

Winnipeg then had a big inning in the third inning when Chris Robinson and Adam Heisler hit back-to-back triples to start the inning. Haerther then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Heisler. Abercrombie then hit a home run to left field to give the Goldeyes a 7-2 lead.

The Saints then brought in Drew Gay to take over pitching duties. Gay did his job as he held the Goldeyes scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, while Matt Jackson, the Winnipeg pitcher, did the same thing to the Saints.

The Saints got a rally going in the sixth inning when Paciorek and Phillips hit back-to-back singles with one out. At that point, the Goldeyes made a pitching change, bringing in Rett Warner to pitch to St. Paul. Warner got Ryan Lashley to flyout, but issued a two-out walk to Kaczrowski to load the bases for Harris. Harris delivered a single to centerfield that scored two runs, cutting the lead to 7-4.

The Saints got another scoring threat in the seventh when Difazio and Songco led off with back-to-back base hits. Difazio then advanced to third when Kvasnicka hit into a fielder's choice where Songco was retired at second base on a questionable call. Paciorek then ended the inning when he grounded into a double play, and the Saints got no runs in the inning.

The teams would exchange zeroes in the eighth inning before the Saints brought in Chris Peacock to pitch the ninth inning. Heisler led off with a walk, then he stole second; but he was thrown out at home plate on a Haerther single thanks to a bullet from Kvasnicka. The Goldeyes would score one run, on a Abercrombie sacrifice fly that scored Grider to make it a 8-4 lead.

Winnipeg brought in Jalien Peguero to pitch to the Saints in the ninth in a non save situation. He proceeded to retire the Saints in order to secure a Winnipeg win. The team's next play Monday night at 7:05 CT.

Win- Matt Jackson

Loss- Kramer Sneed

Player Of The Game- Reggie Abercrombie (Winnipeg)