IL St. Paul Saints

Big Second Inning Leads Saints to 7-1 Victory over I-Cubs

Published on July 30, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - If patience is a virtue, then the St. Paul Saints are one of the most virtuous teams in Minor League Baseball over the last two games. They walked a season tying high 11 times on Friday night and followed that with nine walks on Saturday including six as part of a seven-run second inning. That was all they needed in a 7-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs on Saturday night at CHS Field in front of 9,224.

The Saints, who are one of only four Minor League teams without a shutout this season, had their opportunity end in the first, but it was also the lone run they would allow. Saints starter Cole Sands got the first two I-Cubs on strikeouts before Major League rehabber Nick Madrigal reached on an infield single to second. Narciso Crook singled to left-center sending Madrigal to third. Matt Mervis knocked home Madrigal putting the I-Cubs on top.

The Saints, however, would get that run back and plenty more in the second. They took advantage of six walks in the inning to score seven runs. Curtis Terry led off the inning with one of those walks. Roy Morales doubled to right sending Terry to third. Braden Bishop gave the Saints a 2-1 lead with a two-run single to left. José Godoy and Spencer Steer walked to load the bases. Jake Cave, who grounded into a game ending double play with the bases loaded and the Saints down a run on Friday night, came through with a bases clearing double putting the Saints up 5-1. With one out, Jermaine Palacios knocked home the sixth run with an RBI single to center. That was followed by three consecutive walks, the last one to Morales forcing in a run that put the Saints up 7-1.

That was more than enough for the Saints pitching staff. Sands went 5.0 innings allowing just the lone first inning run on seven hits while walking one and striking out a season tying high seven.

Daniel Gossett made his first appearance with the Saints since returning from Double-A Wichita and he looked sharp striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief. Brad Peacock made his Saints debut and pitched a perfect seventh while striking out two and Evan Sisk pitched a perfect eighth while fanning a pair. Drew Strotman finished off a scoreless ninth. He failed to record a strikeout for the first time in 22 relief appearances.

The 20 walks over the last two games are a franchise record for back-to-back games.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2:07 p.m. The Saints send RHP Ariel Jurado (0-2, 6.65) to the mound against I-Cubs RHP Javier Assad (0-1, 3.77). The game can be seen on 45TV and MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from July 30, 2022


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