IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Know How to Spell R-E-L-I-E-F in 4-1 Win Over I-Cubs

Published on September 12, 2023 under International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


DES MOINES, IA - The St. Paul Saints are running out of starters with the movement between them and the Minnesota Twins. With fewer than five starters, the Saints needed to go with a bullpen game on Tuesday night at Principal Park. The five relievers they used stepped up in a big way as they pitched the Saints to a 4-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs. The win improves the Saints to 37-27 in the second half.

For the sixth consecutive game the Saints scored a run in the first inning. With two outs Trevor Larnach walked and he scored on a double down the third base line by Austin Martin making it 1-0.

Yunior Severino belted his ninth home run with the Saints, and 33rd on the season second most in all of Minor League Baseball, a solo shot to lead off the second making it 2-0. With one out Jair Camargo tripled off the wall in right and scored on a two-out single by Michael Helman increasing the lead to 3-0.

Hunter McMahon got the start for the Saints, just the fourth in his career. He worked 2.0 scoreless innings, but perhaps the biggest moment of the game came in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and two outs, one of the I-Cubs best hitters was at the plate in Yonathan Perlaza. With the count 2-2, Perlaza asked for time. Perlaza failed to get back into the batter's box and get engaged with the pitcher at the eight second mark and was called for a pitch clock violation for strike three. McMahon allowed two hits while walking two and striking out two.

Austin Schulfer was the second arm out of the pen for the Saints. He gave up the lone run as the I-Cubs got on the board in the third when Jared Young led off with a double to right and he scored on a one-out double from P.J. Higgins cutting the Saints lead to 3-1. Schulfer went 1.2 innings allowing a run on three hits while walking one and striking out two.

An error by the I-Cubs proved costly in the fourth. With one out, Camargo reached on a throwing error by third baseman Young. Camargo stole second and scored on a two-out RBI single by Helman making it 4-1.

The next three relievers all slammed the door on the I-Cubs hitters. Austin Brice went 2.1 shutout innings allowing one hit and striking out three, Ronny Henriquez pitched 2.0 perfect innings and fanned two while Cole Sands picked up his third save with a scoreless, hitless ninth while walking one and striking out two.

The same two teams meet in game two of a six-game series on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park at 12:08 p.m. The Saints send RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (6-6, 5.07) to the mound against I-Cubs RHP Nick Neidert (5-7, 5.60). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from September 12, 2023


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