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IL St. Paul Saints

Saints Lose First Series Opener in Two Months in Walk-Off Fashion, 9-8

August 10, 2021 - International League (IL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The St. Paul Saints were one out away from celebrating their eighth consecutive series opening victory. In the blink of an eye, however, it all came crashing down on a two-run walk-off homer by Michael Chavis as the Saints lost 9-8 to the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field.

With the Saints leading 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth and Yennier Cano working his second inning of relief, Tucupita Marcano worked a leadoff walk. Cano then fanned Hunter Owen for the first out of the inning. Jared Oliva singled off the first base back and Marcano tried to take third, but second baseman Drew Maggi picked up the ball and fired to third as Marcano was erased in a rundown as Oliva took second. On the very first pitch to Chavis, however, he crushed a walk-off two-run homer that sent the Saints to their first series opening loss since a 3-1 defeat to the Iowa Cubs at CHS Field on June 15.

The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third as Phillip Evans led off the inning with a single to left-center. With two outs Major League rehabber Ka'ai Tom hit a two-run homer to straightaway center, his first on rehab.

The Saints used the longball in the fourth to take the lead as they went back-to-back for the sixth time this season. Tomás Telis collected the first hit for the Saints, a bloop single into right. With one out, Gilberto Celestino crushed a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark, his third with the Saints, tying the game at two. Ben Rortvedt followed with a solo homer to right, his fourth of the season, putting the Saints up 3-2.

In the fifth, JT Riddle ended an 0-22 slump with a double down the right field line. With two outs Nick Gordon gave the Saints a 4-2 lead with an RBI single to right.

The lead evaporated for the Saints in the fifth as the Indians plated five. With one out Evans doubled to right-center and scored on a single by Taylor Davis to cut the Saints lead to 4-3. Marcano followed with a single to right-center putting runners at first and second. With two outs, Oliva hit a shallow fly to right-center that the second baseman Maggi backed up on, but had the ball glanced off his glove for a two base error as both runners scored giving the Indians a 5-4 lead. Chavis was then hit by a pitch and Cole Tucker doubled in two runs to make it 7-4.

The Saints tied it in the seventh as Riddle reached on a one out infield single to third. Jose Miranda ended an 0-12 skid with a single into left. Nick Gordon's infield single to first and the throwing error by the first baseman Chavis allowed Riddle to score making it 7-5. With two outs Mark Contreras was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Gilberto Celestino walked to force in a run and make it 7-6 and that was followed by Rortvedt being hit by a pitch to tie the game at seven.

The Saints took the lead in the eighth. With Riddle on at first after a fielder's choice, Miranda dropped a single into left putting runners at first and second. After a flyout by Gordon that moved Riddle to third, Telis singled home Riddle to give the Saints an 8-7 lead. Unfortunately, it was a lead the Saints couldn't hang onto.

The same two teams meet in game two of the six-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Saints send RHP Drew Strotman (7-3, 3.59) to the mound against Indians LHP Cam Vieaux (2-1, 5.68). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.

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