Scoring at least one run in each of the first six innings, the St. Paul Saints routed the host Sioux City Explorers 12-3 on Wednesday night in the opener of their best-of-five American Association championship series.

Josh Allen of the Saints, who clinched the North Division series the night before in St. Paul, was 5-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Chesney Young had three hits and three RBI. Ahead 7-1 after five innings, the Saints scored four runs in the sixth. The big hit was Blake Schmit’s two-run single.

The teams play again at 7 p.m. Thursday in Sioux City, Iowa.