SCEN082707

Saints will start playoffs with Ruud on the mound

Last update: August 26, 2007 - 10:05 PM

Charlie Ruud, who was 11-3 with a 3.63 ERA during the American Association regular season, will start for the St. Paul Saints tonight in their playoff opener in Lincoln, Neb.

Justin Lord is scheduled to pitch for the Saints in Tuesday's Game 2 in Lincoln. Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Midway Stadium.

Lincoln won 12 of the 19 regular-season games between the two teams.

Canterbury jockey gets 4,000th victory

T.D. Houghton, a 20-year veteran jockey in his first year riding at Canterbury Park, won his 4,000th career race Sunday by riding Kaos Kid to victory in the first race at the Shakopee track.

Houghton twice has won the riding title at Tampa Bay Downs and led the Great Lakes Downs' jockey standings three times.

"I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to ride this many winners," he said. "When I first started I thought winning 1,000 would be quite an accomplishment."

He is the 52nd rider to win 4,000 or more races.

Eden Prairie Legion team stays alive

Eden Prairie remained alive in the double-elimination American Legion World Series with a 7-3 victory over Bellingham (Wash.) on Sunday at Bartlesville, Okla.

Eden Prairie (43-10) will play either Columbia (Tenn.) or Boyertown (Pa.) tonight. Boyertown rallied to defeat Eden Prairie 11-10 late Saturday.

J.T. Canakes had three hits and Danny Miller drove in two runs for Eden Prairie on Sunday.