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IL St. Paul Saints

Lee's Four-Hit Game, Tying Homer in Ninth Not Enough in 14-6 Loss in 10 Innings

September 3, 2023 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - Brooks Lee had his Triple-A moment on Sunday evening at CHS Field. He collected his first four-hit game with the St. Paul Saints and hit the game-tying homer in the ninth, but the Columbus Clippers scored eight runs in the 10th. The Saints lost 14-6 in 10 innings at CHS Field in front of 6,582. The loss drops the Saints to 32-25 in the second half.

Down one with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Lee clubbed a solo homer to left-center, his second of the season, tying the game at six. It capped off a 4-5 night, a double shy of the cycle with two RBI and two runs scored.

Unfortunately, all the momentum for the Saints was deflated in the 10th inning as the Clippers put up eight runs, tying the most runs the Saints have given up in an inning in franchise history. With the placed runner George Valera at second, Zach Collins led off with a walk. Bryan Lavastida laid down a sacrifice bunt and pitcher Michael Boyle's throw to third was late loading the bases. Raynel Delgado gave the Clippers a 7-6 lead with an RBI single to left. Brayan Rocchio made it 9-6 with a two-run single to center. After a pitching change that brought in two-way player Andrew Bechtold, Angel Martinez extended the lead to 10-6 with an RBI single to right. A sacrifice fly from Kyle Manzardo increased the lead to 11-6. After a walk to Johnathan Rodriguez, Jhonkensy Noel made it 12-6 with an RBI single to center. An RBI double by Valera gave the Clippers a 13-6 lead and the final run came in on an RBI single by Daniel Schneeman, who had pinch run for Collins following his walk.

The Saints had an opportunity to win the game even before the Lee dramatic home run in the ninth. They led by three going into the eighth inning, but two home runs gave the Clippers the lead in the eighth. Noel led off the inning with a solo homer to left-center, his 23rd of the season, cutting the lead to 5-3. Valera followed with a single to right-center and, with two outs, Delgado dunked a single into left putting runners at the corners. The Saints went to their bullpen for Boyle to face Rocchio. He took a slider and hit a three-run homer to left-center, his fifth of the season, giving the Clippers a 6-5 lead.

The Clippers jumped out to the early lead in the first when Rocchio led off with a double to right-center, was sacrificed to third by Martinez, and scored on a groundout by Manzardo made it 1-0.

The Saints answered in the bottom of the inning as Anthony Prato led off with a double to right, moved to third on an Alex Kirilloff groundout, and scored on Kyle Garlick's sacrifice fly.

Noel led off the second for the Clippers with a single to right and that was followed by a double from Valera putting runners at second and third. With one out, Lavastida's groundout scored Noel giving the Clippers a 2-1 lead.

Kirilloff tied the game in the third with a solo home run that skimmed off the top of the wall in left and went over the wall, his fifth homer in a Saints uniform. Kirilloff finished the night 2-4 with a home run, RBI, and a run scored.

The Saints grabbed the lead with a little small ball in the fourth. Yunior Severino led off with a walk, moved to third on a single from DaShawn Keirsey Jr., and scored on a squeeze bunt by Gilberto Celestino making it 3-2.

In the fifth, the Saints added to their lead with a couple of runs on just one hit. Garlick reached on a one out walk and scored on a Lee triple to left giving the Saints a 4-2 lead. Trevor Larnach's sacrifice fly to left increased the lead to 5-2, but for the second time in three games the Saints couldn't hold onto a three-run lead with six outs to go.

The Saints are off on Monday and return to action on Tuesday night at Louisville Slugger Field to take on the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds) at 5:35 p.m. (CT). The Saints are TBA and the Bats send RHP Michael Mariot (4-3, 6.93). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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