COLUMBUS (Interstat) — Jake Rucker lined a two-run double in the top of the ninth inning, and the Saint Paul Saints held on to beat the Columbus Clippers 4-3 on Friday night at Huntington Park. The International League (AAA) game took 2 hours, 50 minutes and drew an announced attendance of 10,100. Saint Paul improved to 79-64, while Columbus dropped to 76-67.

Saint Paul threatened in the first when Hendry Mendez doubled to right field, but Aaron Sabato struck out swinging and Matt Wallner popped out to shortstop Dayan Frias. The Saints grabbed the lead when Cody Morissette homered to right-center field, his 17th of the season. Columbus had a chance in the bottom of the first after Cooper Ingle walked, but Kahlil Watson popped out, Kyle Manzardo lined out and Kody Huff struck out swinging. Columbus pulled even in the fourth. Saint Paul regained the lead in the sixth when Kala’i Rosario doubled to right field, scoring Aaron Sabato. Columbus then moved ahead with a two-run eighth. Kody Huff tied the game with a home run to right-center field, and Blake Perkins followed with a triple before scoring on Dom Nuñez’s sacrifice fly to right field. That gave Columbus a 3-2 lead and put the Saints down to their final three outs.

Saint Paul responded against Rorik Maltrud. Matt Wallner singled and Kala’i Rosario singled to open the ninth. Cody Morissette then grounded into a force out that moved Wallner to third, and Tristan Gray lined out to shortstop for the second out. Rucker followed with a double down the left-field line, scoring Wallner and Morissette to put Saint Paul ahead 4-3. David Bañuelos struck out to end the inning.

Marco Raya then closed it out in the bottom of the ninth for his fourth save, working around a one-out walk. Cooper Ingle grounded out, Kahlil Watson walked, and Kyle Manzardo grounded into a double play to end the game. Garrett Acton earned the win in relief, improving to 5-0. Maltrud took the loss, falling to 7-2.

Justin Campbell started for Columbus and allowed one earned run in 4 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, walking one and striking out four. Ryan Gallagher started for Saint Paul and pitched four innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Kendry Rojas followed with two scoreless innings, giving up one hit, walking one and striking out three. Alejandro Hidalgo struck out the side in a scoreless inning. Carlos Hernández pitched two-thirds of a scoreless inning for Columbus. Raya allowed no hits and one walk in his inning. Cooper Ingle doubled with one out in the fifth, but Kahlil Watson grounded out, Kyle Manzardo struck out and Kody Huff popped out. Dom Nuñez doubled in the sixth, but Dayan Frias and Alfonsin Rosario struck out.

Morissette finished 1-for-4 with one RBI. Rosario went 3-for-4 with one RBI. Blake Perkins went 3-for-4 for Columbus. Hendry Mendez doubled. Aaron Sabato singled and scored. Cooper Ingle doubled. Dom Nuñez doubled and drove in a run. Kody Huff homered. Jake Rucker’s double was his second of the season and provided the winning runs. Saint Paul finished with eight hits, while Columbus had seven. Columbus finished with seven hits, including doubles by Ingle and Nuñez and a home run by Huff. The Saints have won three straight in the series, and the teams continue the set Saturday and Sunday at Huntington Park.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Saint Paul 5, Columbus 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Columbus with a 54.9 percent probability to win.