IL St. Paul Saints

Lewis' Homer, Perfect Night, Not Enough as Saints Drop 10th Straight 11-2

Published on May 19, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


OMAHA, NE - Not even Royce Lewis returning to the St. Paul Saints could help end the losing streak. The Saints scored the first run of the game, but four home runs by the Omaha Storm Chasers was too much to overcome in an 11-2 loss on Thursday night at Werner Park. The loss ties the longest losing streak in Minor League Baseball this season, at 10, and was the 11th consecutive road loss. Both are the longest losing streaks for the Saints franchise since they began in 1993.

Lewis didn't waste anytime making his presence felt. The second pitch of the ballgame he drilled over the center field wall for a solo home run, his fourth with the Saints, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead. It was the sixth leadoff home run in Triple-A franchise history and the fourth different player to accomplish the feat. Lewis would finish the night 3-3 with a home run, RBI, run scored, and a stolen base.

The Storm Chasers got the run back and then some in the bottom of the first. Ivan Castillo led off with an infield single to short and that was followed by a walk to Nick Pratto. With one out Vinnie Pasquantino doubled home both runs putting the Storm Chasers up 2-1. With two outs, Clay Dungan made it 3-1 with an RBI single to left.

In the second, the Storm Chasers tacked on another three. With one out Jimmy Govern doubled to left. Iván Castillo reached on an infield single to first and Alex Kirlloff's throw to Jordan Balazovic covering the bag went into foul territory allowing Govern to score and sending Castillo to second, giving the Storm Chasers a 4-1 lead. Nick Pratto followed with a two-run homer to right, his sixth of the season, increasing the lead to 6-1.

Kevin Merrell answered for the Saints in the third with a solo homer to right, his second of the season, making it 6-2.

Pratto came calling for the second time in the game for the Storm Chasers with a leadoff solo homer in the fifth, his seventh of the season, increasing the lead to 7-2.

The Storm Chasers continued to add on with the long ball in the sixth. Dungan led off with a walk. He stole second and scored on a single from JaCoby Jones making it 8-2. With two outs, Castillo drilled a two-run homer to right, his first of the season, giving the Storm Chasers a 10-2 lead.

Pasquantino hit the Storm Chasers fourth home run of the night, a solo shot to right to lead off the seventh, making it 11-2.

The same two teams meet in game four of the six-game series on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. The Saints send RHP Mario Sanchez (2-1, 3.54) against Storm Chasers LHP Kris Bubic (0-1, 10.13). The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from May 19, 2022


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