ST. PAUL, MN – Winnipeg rookie Jeremy Hinderks sure knows how to make a good first impression. The Renville, MN native, who played for Division III Concordia (Moorhead) this spring, was spectacular in his pro debut, holding the St. Paul Saints over 7.2 innings as the Goldeyes took a 5-0 decision before 5,311 fans at Midway Stadium.

Hinderks, a righthander who signed earlier in the day, allowed only two runners as far as third base as the Goldeyes won their second game in a row to improve to 3-4 on the young season. Minnetonka native Jake Whitney (0-1) pitched well but took the loss for St. Paul (4-2).

Pat Scalabrini swung the big bat for the Goldeyes, knocking in three runs and scoring a pair. Scalabrini’s two-run homer in the sixth inning broke a scoreless tie and gave Hinderks all the run he would need.

Winnipeg gave Hinderks some insurance in the eighth when they roughed up reliever Mark wells for two runs. Scalabrini was in the middle of that rally as well with a double that scored the game’s third run. Amaury Garcia had three hits and scored twice as well for Winnipeg.

The Saints made it interesting in the bottom of the eighth when they chased Hinderks and loaded the bases with two outs. But Oscar Montero, who recorded his first save of the year, struck out Tonayne Brown to end the threat. Kazuhiro Kohno and Adam Olow each had one of St. Paul’s five hits to stretch their hitting streaks to six games each.

St. Paul will send lefty Tim Christman (1-0, 0.00), who fanned nine batters in his first pro start last Saturday at Sioux Falls, to the mound Thursday night against Winnipeg’s Brad Purvell 91-0, 0.00). The game will be the first of 18 televised by Fox Sports Net this year.

Winnipeg 000 002 021-5 11 0
St. Paul 000 000 000-0  5 1

WINN-Hinderks, Major (8), Montero (8) and Stewart
SP-Whitney, Wells (8), Holubec (8) and Dworken.

W-Hinderks 1-0. 
L-Whitney 0-1. 
HR-Win, Scalabrini (1) 
A-5,311

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