IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Blanked by Clippers 6-0 to Begin 12-Game Homestand

Published on August 9, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints found out why the Columbus Clippers are the hottest team in the International League. They entered play on Tuesday with a seven-game win streak and the Saints couldn't snap it. The Saints collected just two hits and lost 6-0 at CHS Field in front of 7,176.

The Clippers grabbed the lead in the second after Aaron Sanchez retired the first two hitters of the inning. Ernie Clement singled to right-center and scored on a double to right by Trenton Books, who advanced to third when Matt Wallner fumbled the ball, giving the Clippers a 1-0 lead. Oscar Mercado lined an RBI single to left making it 2-0.

In the fifth, the Clippers tacked on another run as Oscar Mercado was hit by a pitch. He was sacrificed to second and Bo Naylor walked. The two runners pulled off a double steal and Gabriel Arias singled home Mercado increasing the lead to 3-0.

The Clippers made it 4-0 in the sixth when David Fry was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a two out infield single by Mercado.

Meanwhile, the Saints were hitless going into the sixth inning drawing four walks and having just two runners reach second base. With one out in the sixth, Mark Contreras broke up the no-hitter with a solid single to center. With two outs Wallner singled to right putting runners at first and second. Caleb Hamilton nearly made it a one-run game, but drilled a shot just to the left of the left-field pole. He would ground out to end the inning.

Those were the only two hits the Saints collected and got just one more base runner, a leadoff walk by Roy Morales in the seventh. The Saints failed to collect an extra base hit for the first time in 96-games. The 95 consecutive games with an extra base hit was the second longest streak in all of Minor League Baseball this season, only behind the current streak of 104 by El Paso.

In the ninth, the Clippers add two insurance runs as Mitch Tolman led off with a single to center. He stole second and with two outs George Valera walked. Will Brennan knocked them both home with a double to left-center putting the Clippers up 6-0.

The same two teams meet in game two of a six-game series at CHE Field at 1:07 p.m. on Wednesday. The Saints send RHP Dereck Rodríguez (6-3, 4.28) against Clippers LHP Konnor Pilkington (2-0, 5.46). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from August 9, 2022


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