IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Blaze Past RailRiders with Four Run Third, Win 5-4

Published on April 20, 2023 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints got most of their offense in a four-run third inning. They got a phenomenal spot start from José De León and in the end they hung on for the 5-4 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Thursday night at CHS field in front of 3,577.

The Saints jumped on RailRiders starter Tanner Tully in the third and plated four runs, all with two outs. Elliot Soto started it off with a two-out double to right-center. Matt Wallner walked putting runners at first and second. Alex Kirilloff roped a two-run double to left, putting the Saints up 2-0. Kirilloff finished the night 2-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. After a walk to Kyle Garlick, the RailRiders made a pitching change bringing in Michael Gomez. Mark Contreras greeted him with a two-run double to center making it 4-0.

De León got the start after the Saints shuffled around their rotation on Wednesday. He was more than capable as he retired the first five batters he faced and got all three outs in the third by way of the strikeout. De León went 4.0 shutout innings allowing two hits while walking four and striking out five.

The RailRiders got a run back in the fifth when Mickey Gasper led off with a solo homer to right, his first of the season, cutting the Saints lead to 4-1.

In the seventh, the RailRiders got another run closer as Jesús Bastidas led off with a double to left. With two outs, Estevan Florial hit a fly ball to left that Kyle Garlick overran and had the ball fall for an RBI double making it 4-2.

The RailRiders got to within a run in the eighth when Elijah Dunham led off with a walk and, with one out, Jake Bauers doubled him home to cut the Saints lead to 4-3.

The Saints got a huge insurance run in the bottom of the inning courtesy of a Hernán Pérez solo homer to left, his second of the season, giving the Saints a 5-3 lead. Pérez finished the night 2-4 with a home run, RBI, and a run scored.

That was monumental because in the ninth the RailRiders made it interesting. Gasper led off the inning by reaching on a hit by pitch. He moved to second on defensive indifference and scored on a single from Jamie Westbrook. Brock Stewart, however, locked down the save by getting Elijah Dunham to fly out to end the game.

The same two teams meet in game four of a six-game series on Friday night at 6:37 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-2, 9.00) to the mound against RailRiders RHP Mitch Spence (1-1, 4.30). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities area, the Bally Live app, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.April 20, 2023.

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International League Stories from April 20, 2023


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