IL St. Paul Saints

Eight-Run Fourth Hurts Saints in 12-1 Loss to Bats

Published on June 17, 2023 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


LOUISVILLE, KY - The St. Paul Saints had the big 10th inning on Friday night and the Louisville Bats returned the favor on Saturday night. An eight-run fourth inning was too much for the Saints to overcome as they lost 12-1 at Louisville Slugger Field. The loss drops the Saints to 39-28.

Matt Reynolds got the Bats on the board in the second inning with a solo homer to left, his 12th of the season, making it 1-0.

Trevor Larnach tied the game in the fourth with a 422-foot solo homer to right, his fourth with the Saints. The home run was the 22nd game the Saints have gone deep, tied for the second longest streak in all of baseball this season. They are tied with the Tampa Bay Rays, who started the season homering in 22 straight, and trail the Binghamton Rumble Ponies streak of 24, which ended Saturday night.

The bottom of the inning, however, was when the Bats exploded sending 12 men to the plate and scoring eight runs, the most the Saints have allowed in an inning this season, courtesy of five hits, three walks, and three errors. The first seven hitters reached safely with Christian Encarnacion-Strand starting it with a walk. Matt Reynolds followed with a walk putting runners at first and second. Henry Ramos singled home Encarnacion-Strand and a throwing error by Mark Contreras in right allowed Reynolds to score and sent Ramos to third making it 3-1. After a walk to Michael Siani put runners at the corners, Siani stole second and the throw down to second by Tony Wolters went into center field scoring Ramos increasing the Bats lead to 4-1. After Chuckie Robinson's infield single put runners at first and second, Nick Martini made it 5-1 with an RBI single to right-center. The lead climbed to 8-1 on a Jose Barrero three-run homer, his first of the season. After a pitching change, with two outs Encarnacion-Strand doubled to left and scored when Reynolds' pop up was dropped by Chris Williams at first for an error making it 9-1.

The Bats added to their lead in the sixth on three consecutive singles with two outs. Wil Myers singled to center, Encarnacion-Strand singled him to third, and Reynolds brought home the run with a single to right giving the Bats a 10-1 lead.

Martini added one more for the Bats in the seventh with a solo homer to right, his fourth of the season, making it 11-1.

The Bats put the finishing touches on their offensive output in the ninth. Myers led off with a walk, moved to second on a single from Encarnacion-Strand, took third on a walk to Ramos, and scored on a Siani single to left making it 12-1.

The same two teams play the finale of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. (CT) at Louisville Slugger Field. The Saints send RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-4, 5.09) to the mound against Bats RHP Kevin Herget (0-2, 8.10). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from June 17, 2023


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