IL St. Paul Saints

Daytime David Slugs Two Homers, Saints Take Down I-Cubs 9-5

Published on July 27, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - David Bañuelos admits he enjoys playing day games. On Wednesday he proved how much he loves playing under the afternoon sun. He tied career highs with three hits, two home runs, and three runs scored as the St. Paul Saints offense scored in six of their eight innings and defeated the Iowa Cubs 9-5 at CHS Field in front of 8,555.

Bañuelos started his fun in the fun in his first at bat. With one out in the second, Roy Morales walked. With two outs Bañuelos hit a two-run blast to left, his first of the day and third of the season, putting the Saints up 2-0.

The I-Cubs answered in their next at bat in the top of the third. With one out, Dixon Machado singled to left. Nick Madrigal then hit a grounder to short, but Michael Helman had the ball go in and out of his glove for an error that put runners at first and second. Matt Mervis followed with an RBI single to right, making it 2-1, but Matt Wallner threw out Madrigal trying to take third. After a walk to Narciso Crook, Darius Hill's RBI single off the glove of Helman up the middle tied the game at two.

In the bottom of the inning, however, the Saints grabbed the lead without a hit. Three straight walks by Luke Farrell to Tim Beckham, Wallner, and Helman loaded the bases. A fielder's choice by Mark Contreras scored Beckham putting the Saints back up 3-2.

Bañuelos came calling again in his second at bat. In the fourth he hit a solo homer to left, his second of the game and fourth of the season, increasing the lead to 4-2.

The Saints tacked on another run in the fifth with Wallner at first, after reaching on a fielder's choice. Helman roped an RBI double down the left field line giving the Saints a 5-2 lead.

The Saints had their biggest output in an inning in the sixth as Elliot Soto led off with a double to left. Bañuelos lined a single to center moving Soto to third. Bañuelos finished the day 3-4 with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored. He upped his average to .333 in day games. Spencer Steer's sacrifice fly scored Soto making it 6-2 Saints. Jake Cave then launched an opposite field two-run homer to left, his team leading 13th of the season, giving the Saints an 8-2 lead.

In the seventh, the I-Cubs used a long ball of their own to cut the deficit in half. With one out, Nick Madrigal reached on an infield single to third and Mervis walked. Narciso Crook followed with a three-run homer to center, his second in as many games and 15th of the season, making it 8-5.

For the sixth consecutive inning the Saints tacked on a run. In the bottom of the seventh, with one out, Roy Morales singled to right. Soto doubled into the left field corner scoring Morales increasing the Saints lead to 9-5.

Seven of the nine Saints collected a hit with five different players collecting a multi-hit game, including Tim Beckham who now has 19 multi-hit games out of the 31 he's played. Six of the nine Saints players had an RBI and six of nine scored a run.

Saints starter Aaron Sanchez went 5.0 strong innings allowing two unearned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Ian Hamilton was perfect over the final 2.0 innings and struck out four. The Saints fanned 11 I-Cubs and tied a franchise high with their fifth consecutive double-digit strikeout game.

The same two teams meet in game three of a six-game series on Thursday night at 7:07 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send RHP Mario Sanchez (4-3, 3.13) to the mound and the I-Cubs are TBA. The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and MiLB.TV, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from July 27, 2022


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