IL St. Paul Saints

Hernán Pérez Smacks Two Homers, Saints Roll 9-3

Published on August 25, 2023 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


PAPILLION, NE - With all the young guys and prospects in the lineup it's the seasoned veteran showing the kids how it's done. Following up on his 5-5 night, Hérnan Pérez led the way with career-tying highs with two homers and five RBI as all nine starters collected a hit in a 9-3 victory on Friday night over the Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park. The win improves the Saints to 29-20 in the second half and a franchise record 21 games over .500, 72-51 on the season.

The Saints dug an early hole falling behind 3-0 after three innings. The first four hitters reached for the Storm Chasers in the bottom of the first as they scored a pair of runs. Clay Dungan led off with a single to left. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases. John Rave gave the Storm Chasers a 1-0 lead with an RBI single to center. Austin Martin robbed Tyler Gentry of extra bases with an exemplary diving catch in center as Nick Loftin tagged and scored from third to make it 2-0.

The Storm Chasers tacked on a run in the third when Loftin led off with a single to right-center, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Gentry making it 3-0. Saints starter Simeon Woods Richardson settled down after that and gave the club the length they needed. He went 6.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out three.

The offense got going for the Saints in the fourth as they came through with the bases loaded to get within one. The first three hitters reached as Martin led off with a double down the third base line. Willi Castro walked and Brooks Lee singled to right loading the bases. With two outs Jair Camargo dropped a two-run single into center cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Saints grabbed the lead for good in the fifth courtesy of two costly errors by the Storm Chasers. Gilberto Celestino led off the inning on a throwing error by the second baseman Devin Mann. Pérez followed with a two-run homer to left, his first of the night and sixth of the season, putting the Saints up 4-3. Martin singled to left and advanced to second on a single from Major League rehabber Willi Castro. With Martin trying to steal third, pitcher Joe Barlow stepped off the mound and threw to third, but airmailed it over third baseman Angelo Castellano's head as Martin scored and Castro raced to third as the Saints took a 5-3 lead. Martin finished the night 2-5 with a double, stolen base, two runs scored, and three spectacular diving catches in center. Castro went 1-4 with a walk and two runs scored in his first Major League rehab game. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. roped an RBI double to right increasing the lead to 6-3.

Pérez continued his torrid last two days in the sixth. Yunior Severino led off the inning with a single to left and moved to third on a double to right by Celestino. Pérez then hit a three-run homer down the left field line, his second of the game and seventh of the season, giving the Saints a 9-3 lead.

The Saints bullpen did the rest as Ronny Henriquez went 1.2 scoreless innings and Kody Funderburk finished the night with 1.1 scoreless innings. Funderburk struck out the final batter of the game to extend his streak to a strikeout in each game he has pitched this season, 37 straight games.

The same two teams meet in game five of a six-game series on Saturday night at Werner Park at 6:35 p.m. The Saints send RHP Randy Dobnak (4-6, 4.79) to the mound against Storm Chasers RHP Andrew Hoffmann (0-1, 6.23). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from August 25, 2023


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