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Record: 40-28, 1st, 4 GA Quad City and Cedar Rapids
St. Louis struck early for five runs over the first two innings, and then had to hold on late as the River Walkers downed Twin Cities 8-7 at Busch Stadium (2006).
The victory allowed St. Louis to avoid being swept in the three-game series by the Snow Cats.
The Walkers jumped on Twin Cities starting pitcher Vern De san Miguel for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.
Three straight one-out singles -- from Daniel Becerra, Jose Segura and Nick Shaw -- keyed the outburst.
Shaw's single drove in the inning's first run.
A two-out single by Zach Wenman plated the other.
St. Louis' three-run second was much simpler, Segura hit a three-run homer off De san Miguel, which made it 5-0 and ended De san Miguel's outing.
The Cats started their comeback in the top of the fifth against Walkers starting pitcher Josh McDonald.
It all happened with two outs.
Noah Cutrona singled, and he scored on Shane King triple.
Jim Peebles made it 5-3 with a two-run homer.
Twin Cities pulled to within 5-4 with a run in the seventh off reliever Nick Ruffalo.
Pinch-hitter George Crockett and Shane King opened the inning with back-to-back single.
Bill Savage finally scored Crockett with a one-out fly ball off Scott Rissler.
The Walkers regained a sizeable lead with three-runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Rookie Manuel Coke led off with a double off reliever Nick Wilson.
After a walk to Jose Ramirez, Wenman scored Coke with a single.
Aaron Nixon got down a bunt putting runners on second and third.
Zach Caddell scored Ramirez with a fly ball to right.
Bob Saavedra then made it 8-4 with a single to left.
The Cats made it very interesting in the top of the ninth.
Their first three batters -- King with a double, Peebles with a walk and Sartain with an RBI double -- all reached base against Angel Tibucio.
Closer Nick Strother then got the call for St. Louis.
He was greeted by a two-run double by Bill Savage, making it 8-7.
But Strother buckled down.
He got Aaron Watson on a fly out and Jeff Waddell on a ground out.
Josse Monhanas was given an intentional walk.
Kurt Baty ended it with a ground out to first baseman Nick Shaw.
McDonald (4-7) earned the win after allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings.
He struck out seven and didn't issue a walk.
After that, Ruffalo (1.1 IP), Rissler (0.2), Tiburcio (1.0) and Strother (1.0) closed out the game for St. Louis.
Strother posted his 13th save.