IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Launch Three Long Balls in Come from Behind 7-5 Victory

September 24, 2021 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - Early on the St. Paul Saints looked like they were going to fall to 0-2 in the Final Stretch, but then the offense found its groove. They slugged three home runs and came back from a 4-0 deficit to knock off the Iowa Cubs 7-5 on Thursday night at CHS Field in front of 4,445.

The I-Cubs got on the board first in the first as Brennen Davis walked with one out. Jared Young followed with an RBI double to center giving the I-Cubs a 1-0 lead.

The I-Cubs added to their lead in the second when Christopher Morel led off with a single to left-center. He stole second and scored on a two-out single from Levi Jordan making it 2-0.

In the third the I-Cubs continued adding to their lead as Young led off the inning with a single and Johneshwy Fargas doubled him to third. With one out, Morel made it 3-0 with an RBI single. Andrew Romine's safety squeeze brought home Fargas to increase the lead to 4-0.

The Saints got on the board in the bottom of the third with a solo homer to left-center by BJ Boyd, his first at Triple-A, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

The Saints bullpen did an impressive job keeping the I-Cubs at bay. After Bryan Sammons went 3.0 innings, Chandler Shepherd was sterling in his 3.2 innings of shutout relief allowing one hit while walking one and striking out four.

The Saints made noise in the fifth as Jimmy Kerrigan led off with a triple and that was followed by a two-run homer from Ben Rortvedt, his fifth of the season, getting the Saints to within 4-3.

In the sixth, the Saints grabbed their first lead of the series courtesy of another long ball. Jose Miranda led off with a single to left. He moved to second on a passed ball and Tomás Telis tied the game at four with a single to center. With one out, Mark Contreras ended an 0-7 with seven strikeouts slide by clubbing a two-run homer to right, his 17th of the season, putting the Saints up 6-4.

The Saints added to their lead in the seventh when Boyd led off the inning with a single to short. Boyd swiped second and advanced to third on a fly out. Two batters later he scored on a single by Telis making it 7-4

The I-Cubs added a run without a hit in the eighth on two walks, a sacrifice bunt, and a groundout.

Ryan Mason closed it out for the Saints fanning two to pick up his first save of the season.

The same two teams meet in game three of the five-game series at 7:05 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send LHP Charlie Barnes (6-4, 3.88) to the mound against I-Cubs RHP Joe Biagini (3-7, 5.57). The game can be seen on FOX 9+ and MiLB.TV and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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International League Stories from September 24, 2021


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