IL St. Paul Saints

Bullpen Strong, But Saints Lose 7-3 to Indianapolis

May 19, 2021 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints pitching staff had to feel like they had a big advantage on Tuesday night. The Indianapolis Indians entered play with the worst batting average in all of Triple-A, at .198. Unfortunately, they didn't hit like a .198 team at CHS Field. Despite 4.0 shutout innings from the bullpen the Saints lost 7-3 in front of 3,031.

The Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Nick Gordon led off with a single to left. He moved to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Brent Rooker's RBI groundout.

The lead didn't last long as the Indians put up four in the second off starter Griffin Jax. The first four batters reached as Christian Bethancourt led off with a single to right. Chris Sharpe walked to put runners at first and second. Anthony Alford tied the game at one with an RBI single to left. Hunter Owen followed with a two-run double to left making it 3-1. Joe Hudson then made it 4-1 with a sacrifice fly.

In the third, the Indians added to their lead plating three runs, all with two outs. With one out Kevin Kramer singled. With two outs Sharpe doubled him to third. That was followed by a two-run double from Alford and an RBI single from Olson to make it 7-1. Jax lasted 5.0 innings allowing seven runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out five.

The Saints got a couple back in the fifth as Keon Broxton led off with a double to left. Jimmy Kerrigan walked putting runners at first and second. Yeltsin Encarnacion made it 7-2 with an RBI single. Two batters later, Rooker's sacrifice fly finished the scoring.

The Saints got quality relief work from Ian Hamilton and Danny Coulombe who both pitched 2.0 shutout innings with Coulombe fanning five.

The same two teams meet in the second game of the six-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Chandler Shepherd (0-1, 9.82) to the mound against Major League rehabber, RHP Chad Kuhl (NR). The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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