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IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Fall Just Short in Epic Comeback, 7-6 to Clippers

June 23, 2021 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


COLUMBUS, OH - The St. Paul Saints dug a 7-1 hole to the Columbus Clippers after four innings. They fought back and made it a game getting to within a run after six innings. They had the tying and go ahead runs on in the ninth, but couldn't get the big hit in a 7-6 loss on Wednesday night at Huntington Park.

With the Saints down 7-6 in the top of the ninth, Willians Astudillo led off with a single to center. With pinch runner Jimmy Kerrigan on first, Brent Rooker set a career high with his third double of the game that put runners at second and third. With the infield drawn in, JT Riddle hit a slow ground ball to second baseman Owen Miller, who threw out Riddle while holding the runners. Damek Tomscha then struck out and Mark Contreras hit a slow tapper back to the mound to end the game.

The Saints ability to comeback was due in large part by an incredible job from the bullpen. After starter Rob Whalen gave up seven runs over 2.2 innings, the bullpen of Juan Minaya (1.1 IP), Andrew Vasquez (2.0 IP), and Yennier Cano (2.0 IP) didn't allow a run over the final 5.1 innings giving up just three hits while striking out 10. The bullpen hasn't allowed a run over their last 12.0 innings of work.

With the Saints down six in the fifth, Rooker collected his second double of the night to right field. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Riddle to make it 7-2. Tomscha followed with a single and Contreras blasted his second homer in as many nights, and third of the season, an opposite field two-run shot to left making it 7-4.

In the sixth, Keon Broxton and Sherman Johnson led off the inning with back-to-back walks. Tomás Telis made it 7-5 with an RBI single to right that put runners at the corners. A double play ground out by Astudillo scored Johnson to cut the deficit to one, but it was as close as the Saints would get.

The Clippers scored all of their runs in the first three innings, with six of the seven runs coming with two outs. In the first, Miller's RBI single with two outs made it 1-0 Clippers.

The Clippers scored three runs in the second, all with two outs. With the bases loaded and two outs, Major League rehabber, Roberto Perez, walked with the bases loaded to force in a run and make it 2-0. A two-run single by Daniel Johnson increased the lead to 4-0.

The Saints made it 4-1 in the top of the third when Telis reached on a throwing error, Astudillo singled him to second, and Rooker's double drove home Telis.

The Clippers responded in the bottom of the inning with another three spot. With the bases loaded and one out, Oscar Mercado's sacrifice fly made it 5-1. Whalen was removed and Juan Minaya came out of the bullpen, but he was greeted with a two-run double from Andres Gimenez to make it 7-1.

The same two teams meet in the third game of the six-game series on Thursday night at Huntington Park at 6:05 p.m. central. The Saints send LHP Andrew Albers (2-2, 5.9,3) to the mound against Clippers LHP Logan Allen (0-2, 11.72). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from June 23, 2021


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