GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS - The Grand Prairie AirHogs took an early four-run lead and held off the St. Paul Saints 8-5 to win the American Association Championship Series in the fifth and deciding game at QuickTrip Park on Monday night.
Grand Prairie came back to win the series after losing the first two games in St. Paul. Stephen Douglas and German Duran each had three hits and three RBI for the AirHogs. Jason Jennings pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits, to pick up the victory for Grand Prairie.
St. Paul was led by catcher Richard Mercado, who homered and drove in three runs. Saints starter Todd Mathison went five innings, giving up four runs on five hits, to take the loss.
Grand Prairie led 4-0 through six innings before St. Paul struck back for three runs in the top of the seventh. Mercado walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, Aharon Eggleston singled in another and Jake Krause's sacrifice fly made it 4-3.
But the AirHogs jumped ahead 8-3 by scoring two runs in both the seven and eighth innings. Mercado belted a two-run homer with one out in the ninth to cut the lead to 8-5, but the Saints could get no closer.
The Saints had reached the championship series in their league for the eighth time in their 19-year history. The current version of the American Association was formed in 2006 when the Northern and Central Leagues combined. Grand Prairie joined the American Association two years ago.
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