Saints crush Columbus 19-1 behind Brent Rooker's three homers, seven RBI

Brent Rooker hit three homers, including three- and two-run shots, and had seven RBI as the St. Paul Saints routed the Columbus Clippers 19-1 on Tuesday night at CHS Field, breaking a three-game losing streak.

Jake Cave, Mark Contreras and Jose Miranda also hit homers for the Saints, who built a 7-1 lead after three innings before scoring 10 runs in the fourth.

Rooker has 17 homers and 41 RBI this season. He is tied for the Triple-A East lead in homers and is among the top three in RBI.

Cave, on the 60-day injured list with the Twins because of a back problem that has sidelined him since May, began a rehab stint Tuesday, as did catcher Mitch Garver, who required groin surgery after being hit by a foul ball on June 1.

Cave was 1-for-2 with two RBI and four runs scored; Garver was 0-for-3 with two runs scored.

Griffin Jax got the victory, giving up one run and three hits in five innings. Juan Minaya followed him with three scoreless innings.