Spille cleans up: F-M lefty tosses two-hitter, strikes out nine

The numbers on the radar gun weren't sexy. Ryan Spille's fastball topped out in the low 80s Tuesday night at Newman Outdoor Field.

The results, however, were eye-catching.

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks starter used pinpoint location to mesmerize the St. Paul Saints. Spille pitched seven near-flawless innings to lead the RedHawks to an 8-0 Northern League victory before 4,034 fans.

"He executed the game plan and located all his pitches to all four quadrants of the strike zone," RedHawks pitching coach Jeff Bittiger said. "You can't minimize what he did. It's just as difficult to locate an 80 mile-per-hour fastball as it is a 90 mile-per-hour fastball."

Spille allowed just two hits, struck out nine and walked one.

The left-hander retired the last 13 batters he faced, throwing 99 pitches, including 63 for strikes.

"He perplexed them," RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said. "He mixed it up. They didn't look very comfortable hitting it."

The RedHawks (8-3) evened the three-game series against the Saints (8-4) at one game apiece, in a battle of division leaders.

"I'll take that outcome every fifth day of the year," Spille said. "Everything felt good. The result was excellent."

The RedHawks produced all the runs they would need in the first inning with a three-run rally.

First baseman Toby Rumfield struck the key blow with a two-run double off the wall in right-center field.

RedHawks center fielder Joe Mathis also played a key role in the offense, hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning and driving in three runs.

But Mathis was more impressed with Spille's effort.

"Spille pitched an unbelievable game," Mathis said. "He was getting us in and out of the dugout and keeping us loose."

Spille allowed just two runners into scoring position and didn't give up a hit after the third inning.

He retired the Saints in order in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

"I was able to locate my fastball all night," Spille said. "I'm not an overpowering guy so it is important for me to locate my fastball."

Bittiger said location was just one part of the success. He was also impressed with the separation in speed Spille had between his fastball and breaking pitches.

"All of it put together, that's pitching," Bittiger said. "They couldn't sit on any one pitch. They couldn't sit on any one location."

After the game, the RedHawks traded veteran catcher Rene Pinto to Gary for catcher Shaun Argento.

Pinto, who wasn't in the lineup Tuesday, batted .205 (8-for-39) with two doubles, one home run and four RBI in 10 games with the RedHawks.

NOTES: RedHawks shortstop Brian Sprout extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the second inning. ... RedHawks right-hander Rick Sander (1-0, 5.59 ERA) is slated to start today in the final game of the three-game series against the Saints. St. Paul is expected to counter with right-hander Jason Von Haefen (1-1, 2.25 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ... The Saints activated first baseman Dave Callahan from the disabled list Tuesday. Callahan was out with a hamstring injury, which occurred opening day.

ST. PAUL REDHAWKS

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Harris, cf 4 0 1 0 Mathis, cf 4 1 2 3

Hall, 2b 3 0 1 0 Sprout, ss 5 1 1 0

Callahan, ph 1 0 0 0 Salazar, 3b 4 1 1 0

Alfonzo, c 2 0 0 0 Weber, lf 5 1 2 0

Wisemn, ph/c 2 0 0 0 Gerald, dh 3 0 0 1

Pearson, dh 2 0 0 0 Rumfield, 1b 4 1 2 2

Fera, lf 3 0 0 0 Foley, rf 3 2 1 0

Shallngrgr, lf 0 0 0 0 Ward, 2b 3 1 3 1

Kane, 3b 3 0 1 0 Mazer, c 2 0 0 1

McKee, 1b 3 0 0 0 Spille, p 0 0 0 0

Olow, rf 3 0 1 0 Moak, p 0 0 0 0

Swenson, ss 3 0 0 0

Foster, p 0 0 0 0

Friedman, p 0 0 0 0

Totals 29 0 4 0 Totals 33 8 12 8

St. Paul 000 000 000 -- 0 4 1

RedHawks 310 120 10x -- 8 12 0

E--Hall (2). DP--St. Paul 1, RedHawks 2. LOB-- St. Paul 3, RedHawks 9. 2B-- Harris (1), Sprout (6), Rumfield (4), Ward (3). HR-- Mathis (2). SB-- Gerald (1). SB-- Gerald (1).

IP H R ER BB SO

St. Paul

Foster L, 2-1 5 8 7 4 4 2

Friedman 3 4 1 1 1 4

RedHawks

Spille W, 2-0 7 2 0 0 1 9

Moak 2 2 0 0 0 2

Umpires--Home, Todd Molden. First, Tracy Roles. Third, Sawn Arthur. Time--2:50. A--4,034.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513