IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Exorcise Demons in Toledo, Defeat Mud Hens 4-3

Published on April 20, 2022 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


TOLEDO, OH - Last season the St. Paul Saints carried a lead into the bottom of the ninth at Fifth Third Field. In one of those two games, they were one strike away from winning. The Saints lost both of those contests. Entering play on Wednesday night the Saints were 2-10 in Toledo, but found a way to hang on and defeat the Toledo Mud Hens 4-3. The win improves the Saints record to 9-4.

With the Saints leading 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth disaster nearly struck again. Major League rehabber, Derek Hill led off with a ground ball to third, but Jose Miranda's throw to first was in the dirt and skipped off the glove of Curtis Terry into foul territory allowing Hill to take second. Juan Minaya, however, was steady on the mound and fanned Josh Lester and Ryan Kreidler before getting Jamie Westbrook to ground out to end the inning.

The Mud Hens struck first courtesy of a second inning solo homer from Josh Lester, his second of the season, making it 1-0. It was the lone mistake starter Mario Sanchez made as he went 4.0 innings allowing one run on one hit while walking two and striking out five.

The Saints scored four runs in the third with a little help from the Mud Hens defense. Elliot Soto led off with a walk. Miranda doubled him to third. A wild pitch scored Soto and sent Miranda to third as the Saints tied the game at one. Royce Lewis hammered an RBI single into center putting the Saints up 2-1. Jake Cave then hit a grounder to short that got the lead runner, Lewis, at second, but the throw to first went into the dugout allowing Cave to take second. A walk to Curtis Terry and a balk allowed the runners to move up to second and third. With two outs, Daniel Robertson laced a single into left scoring Cave and the ensuing fielding error by the left fielder Jamie Westbrook scored Terry increasing the Saints lead to 4-1.

In the bottom of the sixth the Mud Hens cut the Saints lead to one. With one out, Zack Short reached on a throwing error by Lewis at short. Kody Clemens followed with an RBI double making it 4-2. Derek Hill singled to left moving Clemens to third and Lester's RBI groundout to second made it a one run game.

Miranda finished the night 2-5 with two doubles, the 11th time in his career he's doubled twice in a game. Lewis went 2-3 with a double and an RBI.

The same two teams meet in game three of the six-game series on Thursday night at 5:37 p.m. (central). The Saints send LHP Devin Smeltzer (1-0, 0.00) to the mound against Mud Hens LHP Joey Wentz (0-0, 8.53). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

Check out the St. Paul Saints Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from April 20, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central