The St. Paul Saints traveled to Sioux City, Iowa for a three-game series with the only team that is close to them in the standings, the Sioux City Explorers. Coming into the game, the Saints carried a 10-game winning streak while the Explorers held a 13-game winning streak.
The Saints struck right away in the first inning when Alonzo Harris singled to start the game. He then stole second base, before scoring on an Angelo Songco RBI double.
The Explorers scored four of their runs in the second inning when Noah Perio Jr. led off the inning with a single. Ryan Court then hit a home run to score Perio Jr. to give the Explorers a 2-1 lead. They would continue scoring as Tom Mendonca hit a double. He then scored when Tim Colwell singled, then advanced to second when the throw went home to try and get Mendonca. Colwell would then score when Anthony Phillips committed an error that allowed Brent Keys to reach base. Keys would be picked off first base to end the inning, but not before Sioux City took a 4-1 lead.
The teams exchanged zeroes until the Saints half of the fifth inning when Harris hit another leadoff single. He then stole second base again, then scored when Mike Kvasnicka singled. Vinny DiFazio then scored on a wild pitch to lower the Explorers lead to 4-3. Sioux City then tacked on another run in the sixth when Tim Colwell hit a leadoff single. He then advanced to second base on a error by the catcher Vinny DiFazio. Colwell stole third before he scored on a Brent Keys RBI single.
Sioux City then scored three more insurance runs in the eighth inning when Koch led off with a single. Colwell followed with a single of his own, and then advanced on an error by the pitcher Chris Peacock. Matty Johnson would come through with an RBI single to score both Colwell and Koch. Johnson then scored when Rene Tosoni hit a sacrifice flyout to center field. That extended the lead to 8-3.
The Saints sent up Argo to lead off the ninth inning. Argo got a single to start the inning, then was erased when Angelo Songco reached on a fielder's choice. The Saints were unable to do anything else and went on to lose 8-3. The loss, combined with the win by the Winnipeg Goldeyes, left the Saints magic number to clinch the division to two.
The Saints and Explorers will play again Wednesday night when the Saints will try and clinch the American Association North division championship. After the series, the Saints will continue their road trip and go to Joplin to face the Blasters, before returning to CHS Field to face the Explorers.