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Sioux City, IA - The St. Paul Saints have at least guaranteed themselves a series win during this three game series against Sioux City as they defeated the Explorers by a score of 6-1. 

Jake Matthys was the story of this one as the right hander for St. Paul dominated the Explorers lineup which came into play with the best team average in the league at .308 and the most runs scored in the league with 357. 

Matthys (5-3) making only his second start of the season for St. Paul picked up the win and went 8 innings allowing just a single run on 2 hits, did not walk a single batter and struck out 3 in the ball game. Matthys a reliever for most of his career has made 23 appearances for St. Paul out of their bullpen this season and now two starts including this one. 

St. Paul gave him some run support early as they got to X’s starting pitcher Taylor Jordan for three runs in the top of the first. Max Murphy the lead off man reached on an infield single, and Kyle Barrett hit a pop up down the left field line that stayed fair by a foot and ended up being a double. Burt Reynolds then drove both of them home with a double and he later scored on a ground out by Zach Walters making it 3-0 Saints. 

The Explorers would get a run in the bottom of the second as Nate Samson lead off the inning with a single. Jay Baum then singled following Samson. A ground out moved both of them up a base and Dylan Kelly collected his 40th RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Samson to make it 3-1 St. Paul. 

The base hit by Baum though would be the last Explorers batter to reach base against Matthys as he then retired the next 21 straight batters that he faced. Tossing a perfect 7 innings after Baums single. 

St. Paul added two runs in the top of the third as Murphy doubled to lead off the inning and was chased home by Barrett’s second double of the game. Barrett would then score on a Walters base hit as Walters drove home 2 runs in the game making it 5-1. 

Though from there Taylor Jordan would also settle down for the X’s as he then did not allow the saints to score over the next four innings that he was on the mound. Jordan (7-2) took the loss tonight as he went 7.1 innings, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits, striking out 2 and walking just one. 

Brady Shoemaker added a solo home run in the eighth to make it 6-1 St. Paul it was his sixth of the season. 

Sioux City will try to avoid the sweep on Thursday against the Saints with first pitch at 7:05, as Keith Picht gets the ball for Sioux City against Eddie Medina for the Saints.