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IL St. Paul Saints

Lewis Kocks in Four, Saints Defeat Clippers in 10, 6-5

May 16, 2023 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


COLUMBUS, OH - Entering play on Tuesday night at Huntington Park, the St. Paul Saints had a .292 winning percentage in Columbus, the lowest winning percentage in any ballpark. Their luck may be changing after they defeated the Columbus Clippers 6-5 in 10 innings behind four RBI from Royce Lewis, in his first Major League rehab game with the Saints.

With the game tied at five in the 10th and Mark Contreras the placed runner at second, Kyle Garlick led off the inning with a single to left moving Contreras to third. Andrew Stevenson's RBI single to center scored Contreras giving the Saints a 6-5 lead. Stevenson finished the night 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

In the bottom of the inning, Oliver Ortega retired the side in order getting two fly outs and Richie Palacios to line out to Tyler White at first to end the game.

The Saints had a tall task against the Cleveland Guardians top prospect, and the #13 prospect in baseball Gavin Williams. They had a great game plan against him and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Stevenson led off with a single to center and with one out Tony Wolters doubled him to third. Jose Miranda's sacrifice fly put the Saints up 1-0. After a walk to Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis blooped a single into right scoring Wolters. Williams went 3.2 innings giving up a career-high six hits while allowing two run on a career tying high three walks and striking out six.

The Guardians answered back with three of their own in the bottom of the inning. George Valera started the inning by reaching on an error by Stevenson when he had a line drive hit off his glove. Zack Collins' single sent Valera to third. A wild pitch scored Valera cutting the Saints lead to 2-1. With one out, Micah Pries was hit by a pitch and with two outs Richie Palacios doubled home both runs making it 3-2 Clippers.

Saints reliever Cody Laweryson made sure the score stayed that way tossing 3.0 hitless, scoreless innings of relief while walking two and striking out four.

The Saints regained the lead in the seventh, courtesy of Lewis. Jose Miranda led off with a single to left. After Julien walked, Lewis crushed a 422-foot homer to left-center, his fist on Major League rehab, putting the Saints up 5-3. Lewis finished the night 3-5 with a home run, four RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base.

Similar to the second inning, however, the Clippers responded in the bottom half. Reynel Delgado led off with a single to right. With one out Daniel Schneeman doubled Delgado to third. With two outs Oscar Gonzalez hit a high chopper over the mound for an RBI infield single to short, making it 5-4. George Valera followed with a game-tying RBI double to left.

The same two teams meet in game two of a six-game series at 11:05 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday at Huntington Park. The Saints send RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-3, 7.17) to the mound against the Clippers RHP Hunter Gaddis (0-2, 6.28). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from May 16, 2023


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